Chapter 1494 - 1486: The Qin Dynasty’s New Code

Chapter 1494: Chapter 1486: The Qin Dynasty’s New Code

Time flowed on.

Another two months passed.

On this day, Qin Wudao convened a grand court assembly. He sat straight upon the imperial throne, his figure towering and stalwart, clad in a Nine-Dragon imperial robe, a Heaven-Leveling crown upon his head, radiating supreme imperial might.

He sat there in stillness, and the place where he was seated seemed to become the center of the cosmos.

The four directions of heaven and earth submitted!

Endless Dao lay prostrate!

Billions of rules rippled!

Below, civil and military officials and the various Lords and Kings stood in attendance. Around every one of them surged a vast and torrential aura, dimming time and space, plunging the universe into silent extinction.

Especially Liu Che, Xiang Yu, Lv Bu and the other Lords and Kings—because of their long years of besieging cities and plundering territories, warring upon battlefields, they exuded a terrifying murderous intent, dyeing the surrounding Void blood-red, endlessly collapsing and re-forming, like countless worlds passing through Reincarnation.

Of course, the most terrifying of all was Bai Qi, his face ice-cold, pupils blood-red, like a path of slaughter piercing through heaven and earth, standing upright within the hall.

Once triggered, boundless killing intent would gush forth and fill the entire universe.

To bury and annihilate endless living beings!

Qin Wudao gazed down at the ministers, saying nothing. Only when his eyes turned toward the direction of the Endless Palace did a faint, expectant smile appear upon his face.

This stirred curiosity in the civil and military officials and the Lords and Kings. They had a vague premonition that some momentous event might occur today, altering the course of the Qin Dynasty’s fate.

"Roar!"

Just then, a deep and resonant beast’s roar sounded from within the Endless Palace, echoing across the firmament, like ten thousand thunderclaps detonating, sending waves of reverberation rolling on and on, long refusing to fade.

Within that sound was contained infinite majesty—a kind of iron law that brooked no provocation.

Boom!

Before the crowd could react, countless chains of law flew out from the Endless Palace, spreading in all directions, descending into countless government offices, weaving into a net of law.

Heaven and earth grew clear; the majesty of Law swept vast and mighty!

"This is..."

Zhuge Liang, Xiao He, Wen Tianxiang, Zhao Yun and the others showed slight changes in expression. Occupying high office and possessing powerful cultivation, they could see at a glance the extraordinary nature of these chains of law.

That was a kind of rule!

Different from the self-wrought rules constructed by a Martial Artist, this was the rule of the state, a public instrument for the people. Under this rule, all beings were equal.

No matter whether one’s strength was great or small, one must abide by the laws of the realm.

"His Majesty has such bold resolve!"

Liu Che subconsciously looked toward Qin Wudao, a trace of admiration flashing in his eyes as he murmured to himself.

Law exists for the public!

Almost everyone understands this phrase—but how many can truly achieve it?

Even in the mortal world, there are many privileged strata, such as "punishment does not reach the great doctors" and death-immunity plaques; when those in power violate the law, the so-called law becomes a joke. Not only do they escape heavy punishment, they even enjoy immunity.

As for the boundless universe, class stratification is all the more severe.

Every realm of cultivation represents one more tier of class.

A Creation Realm Martial Artist enjoys privileges surpassing those of a rule domain Martial Artist!

Across the endless cosmos, the Qin Dynasty’s legal system is already fairly complete, yet the privileges enjoyed by the strong still far exceed those of ordinary Martial Artists.

In some places, the strong may slaughter the weak at will, without fear of any punishment.

Strength itself is authority!

This is the common state of the endless universe!

Swoosh!

Just as the civil and military officials were filled with shock, four streaks of light tore through the air and descended upon the audience hall.

All raised their heads to look. It was Shang Yang, Han Feizi and Di Renjie—three men—along with a small white beast bearing a single horn, fur all fluffy, exceedingly adorable and pleasing to the eye.

"We pay our respects to Your Majesty!"

Han Feizi and the other two bowed with utmost respect.

The small white beast, upon seeing Qin Wudao, its eyes lit up. It turned into a streak of white light and flew onto the imperial throne, rubbing its horn repeatedly against Qin Wudao’s robe, denouncing the crimes of Han Feizi and the other two.

Listening for a moment, Qin Wudao gathered that Han Feizi and the others had been forcing it to work overtime, leaving it no time to rest...

Overtime!

Qin Wudao recalled distant memories, shook his head again and again—there was no going back.

After soothing Tianxiang’s emotions, he turned to Shang Yang and asked, "How goes the preparation of the Qin Dynasty’s new code?"

The court assembly today existed precisely to pave the way for the new code!

The law!

He would use the law of Qin to supplant the law of the cosmos!

He would see that all the subjects of the Qin Dynasty were protected beneath the law!

This was the grand vow within his heart!

"In reply to Your Majesty, it is already prepared!"

Shang Yang stepped forward a pace, cupping his fists as he said, "The Qin Dynasty’s new code is divided into six main trunks: Monarch Law, Penal Law, Civil Law, Local Autonomy Law, Lords and Kings Law, and Foreign Race Law!"

"Each main trunk can be divided into dozens of branches and hundreds of sub-branches!"

"In total, there are over thirteen million legal provisions!"

Hearing this.

Qin Wudao’s face showed shock. So many articles of law?

At the same time, he inwardly felt fortunate.

Luckily, he was a Martial Artist. For such ordinary script, he need only release his divine sense to sweep across it once to memorize it, without relying on rote repetition.

"Present it for Us to examine!"

When Shang Yang finished his introduction, Qin Wudao spoke.

"By Your command!"

With a casual wave, Shang Yang drew from his personal space a heritage stone, within which all the provisions were recorded.

Receiving the heritage stone, Qin Wudao placed it against his brow to read. In an instant, a surge of memory arose in his mind out of nothing.

The audience hall fell silent.

Civil and military officials and Lords and Kings all held their tongues, merely inwardly curious about the content of the code.

Time ticked by, second by second.

Six hours later.

The sun at the horizon had already sunk westward, spilling a blood-red light that turned the clouds of the vast Great World above the Nine Provinces scarlet, as though they were aflame.

The evening wind blew, shaping the clouds into myriad fantastic forms, lending them a certain beauty.

"Not bad!"

At last, Qin Wudao finished reviewing all the legal provisions and nodded in satisfaction. Then he said to Shang Yang, "When you return, make many copies of this new code and distribute them to the localities. Ensure that above every Great Realm hangs the Qin Dynasty’s new code in suspension!"

"Your Majesty is sagacious!"

Shang Yang bowed once more.

Behind him, Han Feizi and Di Renjie could not help but show a trace of excitement upon their faces.

As the drafters of the new code, they understood that once it was enacted, the entire Qin Dynasty’s fortune domain would undergo a tremendous transformation.

Of course, such a transformation would also mean bloodshed and resistance.

For this new code would grievously infringe upon the interests of many.

But what of it?

What great reform has ever passed without bloodshed?

So long as the reform could strengthen the state and allow the common folk to live in abundance, then bloodshed would be worthwhile.

Moreover, with the court’s strength, there was no need to fear any storm!

Whoever dares to raise his head!

Kill without mercy!

...

Over the following half month.

The Qin Dynasty’s new code spread throughout the Qin Dynasty’s fortune domain.

Within every Great Realm, in the area near the Realm Lord’s manor, the Qin Dynasty’s new code hung suspended, available for all Qin subjects to behold.

As the Qin Dynasty’s new code diffused, it stirred up an uproar within the Qin Dynasty’s domain, leaving countless people shocked, delighted, enraged...

Just as Han Feizi and Di Renjie had predicted, many, after reading the Qin Dynasty’s new code, lay awake the entire night, gathering in secret places to discuss countermeasures.

For the Qin Dynasty’s new code had gravely encroached upon their interests.