[Ding!]
[Heaven Awaken World System Activated]
[Do you wish to enter the Heaven Awaken World?]
Xuan Long gazed at his guard, Zhao, his thoughts unreadable. Zhao looked back, paralyzed with confusion and shock. "My Lord, did you hear that? The crystal... it spoke! It's telling me to enter the 'Heaven Awaken World'! I can't believe it... Good heavens! Did the same thing happen to you, sir?"
"Yes, I heard the same thing, Zhao. Calm yourself," Xuan Long replied, his voice steady and calm.
Deep inside, Xuan Long's mind was racing: 'Now I understand everything... the reason this world felt different based on the memories I extracted. So, this is the world of the novel "The Lord's Empire." Strange... truly strange. How did I end up inside a novel? But... this is actually magnificent. According to this body's memories, he is the primary descendant of the Ying Clan, the Qin Dynasty line. That means I will undergo the Legacy Trial to inherit the Qin bloodline.'
He continued, his resolve hardening: 'I wonder what became of Zhao Fu? Is this world exactly as I remember from the story, or are there differences? It doesn't matter. I must settle this and tighten my grip on this matter. The Legacy of the Qin Dynasty... only I have the right to inherit it. Not Zhao Fu, and not anyone else!'
Xuan Long asked firmly, "System, if I enter... do I enter with my physical body or only my consciousness?"
[Ding!]
[You enter with your full physical body.]
(Note: In the original novel, they enter with their consciousness only, but I preferred they enter with their physical bodies to reduce recklessness and eliminate indifference toward death).
"Very well then. If that's the case, I must enter immediately. Zhao, let us enter this world; I am eager to see it."
"As you command, my Lord. Let us go," Zhao replied resolutely.
Xuan Long commanded, "System, I wish to enter the Heaven Awaken World."
[Ding!]
[Live organic body detected: Ying Xuan Long.]
[Initiating entry into the Heaven Awaken World...]
Whishhh!
Suddenly, a blinding flash surged before Huang Long's eyes. When his vision cleared, he found himself atop a towering mountain peak connected to the sapphire sky. This magnificent mountain was joined to a legendary altar that ascended toward the heavens above the clouds, each of its steps vast and imposing.
[Ding!]
[Host's body analyzed.]
[Host possesses an Imperial Bloodline: The Qin Dynasty.]
[Do you wish to undergo the trial to inherit the Empire?]
"Yes, I do," Xuan Long said with absolute confidence.
[Then, the trial begins now.]
[You must ascend the steps of the Ancestral Altar to claim your clan's legacy.]
[Begin!]
Xuan Long took a deep breath, steadying his racing heart. He approached the altar and took the first step... he ascended with remarkable smoothness. The second, third, fourth... until he reached the twentieth step. There, the journey grew difficult; it felt as though the crushing weight of mountains was pressing down on him. But Xuan Long knew—if he surrendered now, the clan would slip from his grasp, and the Imperial Legacy would fall to Zhao Fu. He chose to shine, to achieve glory, and never look back.
At the twentieth step, he drew another breath and pushed forward: the twenty-first, twenty-second, twenty-third... He reached the sixtieth step, drenched in sweat, yet a smile of insatiable ambition graced his face. He kept climbing, the altar intensifying its pressure. Upon reaching the seventieth step, he suddenly stopped.
Demons and ghosts with the most hideous and terrifying faces emerged before him, trying to strike fear into his soul and find a weakness to exploit. But Huang Long, with a cold heart and unwavering resolve, ignored them and continued his ascent. By the eightieth step, his body was trembling under the immense pressure, yet he still smiled, whispering to himself: "No demon, ghost, or Ashura can frighten me. My heart is unshakable, and my mind does not fear death."
As if the altar sensed his inner conviction, the demons vanished instantly, replaced by the sound of sweet, melodic laughter from afar. Figures of the most alluring women—beyond human imagination—appeared before him. But Xuan Long didn't even blink. He took a deep breath and continued: eighty-one, eighty-two... until he reached ninety, and the sirens faded into nothingness.
At the ninetieth step, the pressure reached its absolute peak. Yet, with an inexhaustible spirit, an unbreakable will, and pride that refused to bow, he surged forward... then, the hundredth step of the altar... he finally reached it!
[Ding!]
[You have ascended the steps of the Altar with overwhelming success!]
[The inheritance of the Qin Will and Bloodline is now in progress...]
Suddenly, Xuan Long vanished from the altar. He began to witness the historical events of the Qin Dynasty unfolding before him: from its humble rise to its absolute pinnacle, and finally to its tragic fall. Huang Long saw it all with his own eyes, feeling the weight of his ancient lineage and understanding the profound history of his ancestors.
Suddenly, a majestic and towering figure appeared before him...
The Great Emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
With solemn dignity, the Emperor clasped his hands and bowed before Huang Long for a full minute—a gesture of profound recognition. Then, he spoke in a voice that shook the very foundation of his soul:
"The Legacy of 'Qin' is now in your hands, my honorable grandson. I hope our glory strikes the very heavens, and that you achieve immortality and eternalize the state once more. May your mind be enlightened, and your heart eternal... Farewell, my honorable grandson. My trust lies with you... Long live Qin! "
Suddeenly, everything vanished from before Xuan Long's eyes, and he found himself back on the altar. Dropping as light as a feather into his hands was a violet cube.
[Ding!]
[The host has inherited the Qin Dynasty Legacy.]
[Guard it well; it is your most precious possession.]
[Transferring host to the Heaven Awaken World...]
In an instant, Xuan Long vanished from the altar and reappeared in the center of a vast, emerald-green field.
[Ding!]
[As the Imperial Heir of a "Violet-Legendary Grade" Village Heart, you are entitled to view and possess the comprehensive World Map and a detailed Map of China and its neighbors. You may choose a specific location to establish your settlement within China's borders.]
[Ding!]
[Where do you choose to settle?]
Suddenly, two scrolls made of exquisite leather, smelling of rich musk, appeared out of nowhere: one map of the world and one of China. Xuan Long studied the first map—the world map—intently, absorbing its geography, terrain features, border dynamics, and the scale of various nations. He extracted vital strategic insights before rolling it closed and opening the second: The Map of China...
Xuan Long gazed at the map as its features shifted to reveal the terrain of the Chinese borders within the "Heaven Awaken World." He ignored the "City of Glorious Light" and the "Golden Plains." Instead, his eyes fixed on a mysterious region in the far southwest known as the "Nine Dragons Basin."
"System," Xuan Long commanded firmly, "I choose the 'Nine Dragons Basin' as the capital of my Empire."
[Ding!]
[Are you sure? This is a Forbidden Zone that does not appear on ordinary maps. However, based on your Village Heart grade and your overwhelming success in the Legacy Trial, the area is visible to you.]
Xuan Long murmured with a confident tone, "Hmm... that only makes me want to go there more."
Xuan Long knew exactly what others did not. In the original story, this location was the ancestral cradle of the Heaven-Slayer Emperors. It was here that Zhao Fu had settled, discovering the Heaven-Slayer Empire Legacy and the legendary Heaven and Earth Refining Formation. The land concealed profound, priceless secrets, and he was determined to claim them.
"System, I am certain of my choice."
[Ding!]
[Location Confirmed: Nine Dragons Basin — The Forbidden Forest of Horrors.]
[Due to the Violet-Legendary Grade of the Village Heart, the central area will be cleared of 'Forest Monsters' to establish your settlement.]
Xuan Long smiled. He knew that the "Eternal Mist Mountains" surrounding this basin would be his invincible shield. While other Lords clashed in the open plains, he would lay his foundation in the most dangerous spot on the map…