At the same time, within the Manor of Regent Doanh Thuong Quan, the atmosphere was as heavy as lead. Everyone was gripped by deep anxiety upon hearing that Prince Hien (Cultivation: B) and Silver Beard (Cultivation: A) had departed the capital before the official travel ban was announced. Whispers buzzed through the halls like the relentless drone of cicadas in summer, and eyes filled with mutual suspicion loomed over the estate.

  Rumors spread that Prince Hien was concealing a massive army outside the city, ready to strike the capital if he were not crowned King. The retainers also harbored deep suspicions toward Doanh Thuong Nhan (Cultivation: B+), believing he favored Prince Hien's faction because he frequently visited Hien’s manor while rarely setting foot in the Regent's. This perceived bias left the entire faction in a state of high unrest.

  Doanh Thuong Quan (Cultivation: B+) commanded a formidable following, including a Great General (Rank A) and no fewer than twenty Minor Generals (Rank B) with resolute countenances. Alongside them were three strategists whose eyes gleamed with ambition as they plotted their next move.

  They spoke bitterly of the unfairness Thuong Quan had endured. Despite being the one who added ten cities to the Little Imperial Kingdom’s territory by saving King Chau Ngoc, his father had bypassed him to grant the throne to Doanh Thuong Hoang simply because he was the eldest. Now, the succession was being passed to the next brother, Doanh Thuong Hien. To them, this was a grave injustice against the youngest son. They urged that now—while Silver Beard was absent and unable to protect the King or launch a counter-attack—was the time to strike. They proposed forcing Doanh Thuong Nhan to abdicate the throne to Thuong Quan, who would then lead the full defense of the capital against Prince Hien’s forces.

  The plan was meticulously crafted and near-perfect, awaiting only Thuong Quan’s final decision. Yet, he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon outside the window. As the strategists and generals grew more impatient, their voices rising in urgent persuasion, Thuong Quan recalled the words of his master, Noe:

  "All Kings, Lords, Gods, or Immortals in this world do not achieve their status by their own will alone. The final outcome is always orchestrated by the Heavens. As the common folk say: 'Man proposes, but Heaven disposes.'"

  Thuong Quan took a deep, steady breath. When he finally spoke, his voice was low but carried an undeniable authority that echoed through the room: "Everyone, prepare for a retreat. I may be capable of committing an evil act, but I cannot commit an act of filial impiety against my father. Heaven would not tolerate it, the Earth would not forgive it, and the hearts of the people would no longer turn toward me. You shall all follow my command."

  Though the generals were visibly frustrated and their faces clouded with disappointment, none dared to speak up. They bowed their heads and withdrew, their emotions a chaotic mix of shame and anger—yet, in their hearts, their respect for Thuong Quan grew even deeper.

  The Coronation and Reforms of Doanh Thuong Quan

  After three days of funeral rites, Doanh Thuong Nhan, the Father of the King, led all the court officials to Prince Hien’s manor with the intent of crowning him. However, they instead discovered a letter left by the Prince. In it, he stated his love for freedom and his desire to travel the world as a carefree Immortal, unwilling to be burdened by the heavy responsibilities of the throne. He formally requested that the crown be passed to his younger brother, Doanh Thuong Quan.

  The appearance of this letter felt incredibly forced and lacked credibility—the handwriting appeared rushed and messy—yet it aligned perfectly with the desires of many generals and officials who wanted Thuong Quan to rule.

  The King-father, Doanh Thuong Nhan, feigned displeasure and a touch of anger, but eventually declared with a voice of reluctant authority: "So be it. I shall respect my dear son’s decision. Doanh Thuong Quan, from this day forth, you shall be King. Let the preparations for the coronation begin!"

  Cheers and congratulations erupted like crashing waves, marking the dawn of a new dynasty. Much later, Thuong Quan would realize this was his father’s deliberate scheme to ensure that Prince Hien’s supporters would have no grounds for complaint and would serve the new King with total devotion.

  Immediately upon ascending the throne, King Thuong Quan dealt with Phap Chinh. Although Phap Chinh’s legalist rule over the past ten years had been effective—no one picked up lost items on the road, bandits vanished from the mountains, every household was fed, and the people fought bravely for the state while fearing private brawls—his punishments were excessively cruel. He brooked no dissent, and even minor infractions resulted in hard labor, imprisonment, or execution. Some of Thuong Quan’s own generals had committed minor offenses only to have their ears or noses cut off or their eyebrows shaved, forcing them to live in eternal shame behind masks.

  Furthermore, Phap Chinh was an arrogant man who had made many enemies. Many harbored deep grudges and sought to assassinate him, though they had never succeeded. Thuong Quan did not wish to strike him down directly, so he ordered Phap Chinh to return home for a period of "rest and recovery." Not long after, news broke that Phap Chinh’s entire family had been slaughtered in a single night. No culprit was ever found. This mysterious death hung over the court like a dark cloud, sowing fear among the officials.

  Thuong Quan did not abolish Phap Chinh’s laws; instead, he softened the penalties by one or two degrees, with some even reduced by three. He declared a tax exemption for his first year as King, and in the following years, taxes were halved. He rarely collected full taxes, allowing the people to accumulate a surplus of wealth.

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  The King encouraged and employed many scholars of the Legalist School to ensure that the tax burden did not fall solely on the peasantry. Instead, it was distributed evenly across the middle and upper classes, allowing the common folk to live comfortably and narrowing the gap between the rich and the poor.

  The "Civil Star" System, Megrez (Wen Qu Xing, Literary Star, Celestial Union - "The Purifier"), one in seven star

  Beyond his human advisors, Thuong Quan possessed an Imperial Star System featuring a spirit known as the Civil Star (Wen Qu Xing, Literary Star). This system consistently provided solutions for civil governance. One such method was increasing taxes on land ownership while decreasing individual taxes and offering rewards for every newborn child. This led the landless poor to actively increase their offspring; men sought to marry more wives to have more children, which not only increased their household labor force but also brought financial benefits. Consequently, many families grew to have at least ten children.

  The Civil Star system also mandated a focus on education. Every family with a child in school received a stipend and school supplies. Basic literacy was prioritized so the people could read the King’s decrees and understand when taxes were waived or adjusted. This ensured they could fully benefit from the King's favors. Additionally, a merit-based recruitment system was established that ignored family lineage; talent was the only criteria. Because the laws were sufficiently strict and the rewards were sufficiently generous, talented individuals flocked to serve. Thus, the war machine of the Little Imperial Kingdom began to turn more slowly, but with far greater endurance and resilience.

  Thuong Quan also personally visited the shrine of the White Wolf Spirit God to offer thanks for his protection against the Yao King. He then ordered widespread reforestation to restore the original ecosystem. Logging was strictly controlled, with specific regulations on which trees could be cut and which must be preserved.

  After some time, the White Wolf Spirit God appeared and blessed Thuong Quan with an extended lifespan, as a shimmering light enveloped the region. In gratitude, Thuong Quan built a city to commemorate this friendship. The City Lord was a Druid, and inside the city, murals depicted the great deeds of the White Wolf Spirit God, how the Druids defeated the Yao King, and the support provided by the Shamans (including a portrait of Noe). This served as a reminder for future generations not to engage in reckless deforestation. The surrounding area flourished with lush greenery and birdsong. Hunters often visited to trade and learn the Druidic way of life, retelling the ancient stories to ensure their children respected the forest.

  The White Wolf Spirit God (an avatar of the White Wolf Yao King) was the primary deity of the entire land, particularly the various petty kingdoms of Western Lang, with over ten million followers. However, after the battle against the Dark God's Black Tower, the White Wolf was forced to allow the Buddha Race, Asura Race, and Immortal Race to build their own religious structures. The White Wolf had to appear as a mere "Dharma Protector" or a "Guardian of Treasures" for these groups, causing his own following and divine merit to dwindle, which saddened him deeply.

  Thuong Quan’s actions—building more homes for Druids and creating monuments to honor the White Wolf—greatly pleased the Great Forest God. Consequently, the deity began to appear actively in these areas, performing miracles to grow forests, guiding the people to underground springs, and helping wildlife thrive while restraining dangerous beasts. This ensured the villages and towns of Thuong Quan’s kingdom always had an abundance of fruit and game. Gradually, the people began to worship the White Wolf as their own Great Forest God.

  Previously, the Little Imperial Kingdom and the various Western Lang kingdoms viewed each other as enemies due to cultural differences and different deities, often waging war in the name of their respective gods. Now that both regions worshipped the White Wolf, that justification vanished. Conflicts were reduced to mere political disputes between rulers; even when land changed hands, the common people were no longer harmed, as battles were fought strictly between armies.

  The Rise of the Imperial Kingdom

  After sacking the capital of Chau Ngoc, the King of Western Lang had brought home many beauties, fine wines, countless jewels, and skilled servants who knew how to please him. Consequently, the King once known as the "Wise Old Wolf" became obsessed with wine and lust, growing increasingly incompetent. The Western Lang alliance collapsed, and the petty kings broke away. They no longer supported one another and were gradually absorbed by the Little Imperial Kingdom.

  The Little Imperial Kingdom was also granted more land by the King of Chau Ngoc as a reward for avenging the humiliation of the capital's looting. From then on, the Little Imperial Kingdom was officially recognized as an Imperial Kingdom, one of the ten great kingdoms under the jurisdiction of the Great Chau Ngoc Empire.

  Doanh Hoang Thu, the son of Doanh Thuong Hoang, was a man who loved singing, dancing, and acting, showing no interest in politics. Understanding this, Thuong Quan built a grand stage in the capital where music and cheers echoed every week during performances. Hoang Thu presided over these events and often performed himself, with every resource provided to develop his talents.

  Under his influence, performing arts and craftsmanship reached a golden age. Hoang Thu’s calligraphy and painting skills were so extraordinary that they were recognized by the Great Masters. His paintings were said to be so lifelike that the beautiful women within them could step out of the canvas to dance and sing, the silver bells on their robes chiming with every movement, before they gracefully returned into the painting—leaving spectators in absolute awe.

  As for Prince Hien, he remained far away. Thuong Quan continued to have him monitored—not out of a desire to harm his brother, but as a precaution against any unforeseen dangers. He knew that his father secretly transferred a portion of his private funds to Hien—not a massive fortune, but enough to support several dozen people. The Great General Silver Beard remained by the Prince's side, never leaving him.

  On the surface, Prince Hien appeared radiant and content, a man who had truly cast aside the world's vanity. He spent his days wandering through scenic landscapes, composing poetry, and enjoying the company of his wife, children, and loyal servants. To any onlooker, he was the personification of a carefree Immortal.

  However, beneath this veneer of tranquility lay a boiling, unbearable rage.

  He suppressed this resentment so deeply that it began to corrode his very soul and body. This internal poison manifested as a mysterious illness; he frequently fell into fits of unconsciousness, his spirit battered by the sheer weight of his suppressed fury. In the dark recesses of his mind, only one thought remained: revenge.

  This obsession blinded him to the beauty of the world and the love of his family. His hatred for his father and his younger brother, it grew like a parasitic vine, feeding on his life force and thickening with every passing day. What the world saw as a poet's journey was, in reality, the slow transformation of a man into a vessel of pure, unadulterated malice.