Chapter 142: Milestone: Founding of the Nation, Qi

With his eldest brother bringing a large number of his own men into the capital, life had finally become less hectic—or at least, there were fewer tasks that required his personal attention.

One day, his eldest brother arrived at Ji Huo’s small courtyard, looking excited and clutching several sheets of paper. He found Ji Huo lounging in an old man’s chair, eating grapes and lazily waving a palm-leaf fan.

"Well, well, if it isn't our new Emperor. What brings you to my humble abode?" Ji Huo teased.

The eldest brother laughed, sat on a stone stool, and grabbed a water carafe, gulping down several mouthfuls before catching his breath. "The whole city is busy as a beehive. Those people are bickering in my ears all day long, and I’m sick of it. I figured your place was the most peaceful spot in the capital, so I came here to hide."

Though his eyes were filled with exhaustion, his spirit was high. Ji Huo noticed a glimmer in his gaze—something different from before. While the eldest brother had always possessed a refined, gentle air, there was now a flickering flame burning within that light. A subtle, regal majesty had taken root in him; even if he hadn't noticed it himself, his every gesture now carried the aura of a monarch. He had become sharper, more exposed, and significantly more unrestrained.

He was a monarch reborn.

Ji Huo smiled and said, "You’ve got plenty more headaches coming your way."

"Why do I get the feeling you’re gloating?" his brother asked with a chuckle.

"How could that be? Not at all," Ji Huo replied lazily.

The eldest brother looked around the courtyard. "Where is Miss Xia?"

"Oh, I roasted her carrier pigeon, so she went out of the city to see if she could find any other news," Ji Huo replied offhandedly.

Xia Nichang had recognized that bird as one sent by the High Shaman. The old man rarely sent her messages, but he had sent five in a row. She hadn't been worried at first, but not long after, two-thirds of her Demon Dragon Spear had been abruptly recalled. There was only one reason for that: her brother had personally summoned the weapon. It was highly likely that the spear had now been forged into a complete, peerless demonic artifact. Worried about what might have happened—knowing that a brother as protective as hers would never recall her weapon unless he faced a threat he couldn't handle alone—she had left to seek information.

The eldest brother nodded, then handed over the papers. "I wanted your opinion on something."

Ji Huo took the sheets. They contained only a few characters, such as "Wu," "Yan," and "Xia." He squinted. "Big brother, surely you aren't asking me to pick the name of your dynasty?"

Ji Junhong spread his hands. "They’ve been arguing about it for days. It’s a nuisance, so I came to ask you."

"Why don't you just pick one yourself?" Ji Huo asked.

"I have trouble making decisions," his brother replied innocently.

*Funny, same here,* Ji Huo thought. He flipped through the papers and asked, "What about Father? Why didn't you ask him?"

The eldest brother poured himself a cup of wine and sighed helplessly. "Father was loyal to the Great Zhou, and now that he’s suddenly become the Retired Emperor, he’s rather depressed. How could I bring this up to him?"

Ji Huo tapped the table. "Perhaps his loyalty wasn't to the Great Zhou, but to his brothers-in-arms. After all these years, you don't think he noticed what you were doing?"

The eldest brother paused, then smiled wryly. "Who knows?"

Ji Huo chuckled, looked through the papers again, and eventually pulled one out. "How about this one?"

His brother raised an eyebrow. "Qi?"

Ji Huo nodded, explaining, "The Great Zhou was associated with Water, while Qi belongs to Earth—it aligns perfectly with the cycle of the Five Elements. Besides, in the unofficial histories I’ve read, the 'Art of Qi and Huang' refers to medicine, which expresses a wish for the people to be healthy and free of illness." He paused, then improvised, "And in another book, there's a mythical beast called the 'Qi Wuxie.' The character 'Qi' here also carries the meaning of 'innocence.' I hope this world will have fewer evils and fewer demons."

"Wuxie... innocence..." Ji Junhong murmured. His eyes grew brighter and brighter. Suddenly, he nodded firmly. "Then so be it. Let it be the Great Qi, and I shall be its Emperor!"

His voice carried an unquestionable authority. In the sky, the clouds shifted, and five-colored light descended, clearly visible across the entire territory of the new nation.

[Ding!]
[Milestone achieved: Founding a Nation!]
[Founding: Assisted the Human Emperor in establishing the nation of "Qi"!]
[Reward points: 1,000,000.]

Ji Huo’s eyes lit up, then narrowed. He had long suspected the origin of the system, but since it had shown no reaction when he took the capital, he had thought he was wrong. Now he realized that the rewards were tied to the formal founding of a state. With this million points, combined with what he had earned in battle, he should be able to max out the second or even third level of his "Elemental Atlas" once Xia Nichang returned and he could soak up some of her luck.

"What are you thinking about, brother?" the eldest brother asked, seeing Ji Huo lost in thought.

Ji Huo stroked his chin. "I'm thinking about when I should lead the army to wipe out the Liang Kingdom."

His brother was stunned, then laughed. "The Great Qi has just been founded, and you're already thinking of expansion?"

Ji Huo grinned. "Think about it, brother. Once Liang is gone, aside from Father and the Sword Saint, the south will be ours to command!"

The eldest brother pondered for a few seconds. Though he didn't quite understand some of his brother's terminology, the logic was sound. "You always have a way with words!" He smiled, then said seriously, "Once this current rush is over, that shall be the time to march. Whether it's the connection between the Great Demons and the Liang Kingdom, or the fact that they sit right on our border, we have plenty of reasons to strike."

Ji Huo smiled and filled his brother's cup, then his own. They raised their glasses and clinked them together.

"To the world," they said in unison.

The brothers looked at each other and drank. After a moment, Ji Junhong asked, "Brother, how do you intend to handle the matter of Miss Xia? She must have deep connections to the Dragon Kingdom's royal family."

Ji Huo was uncharacteristically silent for a long time, then shook his head. "I don't know."

"Do you like her?" his brother asked directly.

Again, Ji Huo was silent, and again, he shook his head. "I don't know."

A flash of understanding crossed Ji Junhong's eyes. Though he had never been married and had no experience in romance, he had read plenty of popular novellas. He had even studied the hit *The Overbearing Grandmaster Falls for Me* several times, taking notes in secret. He could confidently call himself a love guru.

"I understand!" the eldest brother said, patting Ji Huo on the shoulder with a look of profound knowing.

*No, you don't understand anything...* Ji Huo thought, stunned.

Ji Junhong laughed. "Some things are better when they're made clear."

With that, he grabbed a bottle of wine and strode out, laughing freely. His wide golden robes fluttered with his swaying gait, unrestrained and carefree.

(End of Volume One.)