As her vision shifted again, Ye Xin found herself standing in a magnificent hall.
The ceiling was incredibly high, with towering dragon pillars standing majestically, giving the hall a solemn and awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Beneath her feet was a white jade platform, and behind her was a wide golden throne adorned with a soft golden-red cushion.
Lin Qian reached out and gently held Ye Xin's hand, leading her to sit on the grand throne behind them.
At that moment, countless figures in front of them knelt down in unison.
"Greetings to Your Majesty, greetings to the Empress! May the Huaxia Empire's prosperity last for all eternity!"
The voices were not loud, but they echoed throughout the hall.
Sitting on the throne, Ye Xin felt slightly dazed. The grandeur of the scene left her feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure of how to react.
After all, she was only in her early twenties, still young by the standards of Soul Martial practitioners with extended lifespans.
What struck her even more was the sight of a familiar figure among the crowd—Zhuge Ming, the chancellor who had taught her so much.
Zhuge Ming's vast knowledge had earned her respect, and seeing him kneeling before her filled Ye Xin with mixed emotions.
"Rise, all of you," Lin Qian commanded, raising his hand to signal the crowd to stand.
Upon receiving Lin Qian's order, the kneeling crowd slowly stood up, directing their gaze toward the throne.
"Today, I have gathered everyone here for two reasons. First, the puppet body project has made significant progress. The successful creation of the Soul Orb has allowed the Empress to visit the Empire and meet all of you. That is the second reason."
After Lin Qian finished speaking, the crowd below smiled and nodded in agreement.
"This is the core of the Huaxia Empire—the people who form the backbone of the Empire, the ones we rely on," Lin Qian explained to Ye Xin as he turned to her. "The people of the Huaxia Empire are like family to me."
Bang!
Just as Lin Qian finished speaking, a loud thud echoed through the hall, startling Ye Xin.
She turned toward the sound and saw a burly man, as large as a bear, slamming his head against the ground. "Your Majesty, I am moved to tears!"
The man continued to cry and bang his head so hard that the entire hall shook, yet there wasn't a single scratch on his forehead, leaving Ye Xin dumbfounded.
"You big fool, Guan Yi, stop him!" Lin Qian shouted at a man with neatly trimmed sideburns and a flushed face.
Of all the people present, only he had the strength to pull the burly man away.
Guan Yi hurried forward and struggled to restrain the man for a while until Lin Qian pretended to be angry, causing the man to stop crying.
With a helpless expression, Lin Qian turned to Ye Xin and said, "The crying man is Xu Meng, the commander of the Huaxia Empire's Second Army Corps, in charge of the Imperial Shield Army. He oversees all shield soldiers."
"As for the man with the well-groomed sideburns and a flushed face, that's Guan Yi, commander of the Fourth Army Corps, responsible for the Imperial Blade Army and all sword soldiers."
"Xu Meng is honest and straightforward, while Guan Yi is passionate and loyal."
After Lin Qian's introduction, Ye Xin nodded and curiously observed the two men.
Noticing Lin Qian mentioning them, and seeing Ye Xin's gaze upon them, the two men respectfully saluted her.
Lin Qian then pointed to a man in a crane cloak and headpiece—Zhuge Ming. "And this is Chancellor Zhuge Ming, who is in charge of the Ministry of Heavenly Works. I believe you are already acquainted with him."
"Indeed, the Chancellor has taught me a great deal," Ye Xin replied with a smile, nodding to Zhuge Ming.
Zhuge Ming, smiling, returned the gesture, saying, "The Empress is exceptionally intelligent, and it has been an honor for me to teach her."
"The Ministry of Heavenly Works oversees the research within the Empire, while the Ministry of Fireworks is responsible for crafting those creations. The men are led by Lu Gong, and the women by Tang Zhi."
Lin Qian pointed to a man and a woman standing not far behind Zhuge Ming, introducing Lu Gong and Tang Zhi—the artisans who had crafted the Starlight White Dress.
"That man with the mustache is Lu Gong. I find it quite unsightly and have asked him to shave it off, but he refuses. The woman in the brocade dress is Tang Zhi, the one who personally crafted your puppet body. After all, it's not appropriate for a male artisan to create your body."
Lu Gong and Tang Zhi exchanged smiles and bowed to Ye Xin on the throne. "Greetings, Empress. We hope you are satisfied with the Starlight White Dress."
Knowing their roles and hearing their words, Ye Xin immediately understood that her dress was made by them. "It's wonderful. I love it very much. Many women have envied it."
Hearing this, Lu Gong and Tang Zhi beamed with pride. Who wouldn't be pleased to hear that their creations were appreciated, especially by the Empress herself?
"And this lady?" Ye Xin asked, her eyes lighting up as she looked at a woman standing beside Xu Meng and Guan Yi.
"I am Hua Ling, commander of the First Army Corps. Greetings, Your Majesty," Hua Ling introduced herself with a respectful bow before Lin Qian could speak.
Ye Xin couldn't take her eyes off Hua Ling, filled with admiration and curiosity.
Hua Ling wore light armor that accentuated her strong and heroic presence, resembling a battle goddess with an extraordinary aura.
"She is the only female commander among the corps leaders, in charge of the Imperial Sword Army," Lin Qian added with a smile.
He then pointed to a pale man in a black robe, saying, "This is Ji Qing, commander of the Third Army Corps, responsible for the Imperial Scout Army. He excels in assassination and espionage."
After Ji Qing saluted, Lin Qian pointed to a fair-faced young man. "Li Rong, commander of the Fifth Army Corps, leads the Imperial Archery Army. His arrows never miss their mark."
"And finally, the last commander is Zhao Long, whom you've already met. He's the only general currently able to leave the Huaxia Empire and serves as my personal guard, leading the Sixth Army Corps."
These six commanders, along with the chancellor and the chief artisans, formed the most elite group in the Huaxia Empire—the pillars of the Empire.
Ye Xin looked at these individuals with wonder. Their auras alone set them apart from anyone she had ever encountered.
Yet, she found it strange that, despite their apparent strength, their energy felt ordinary.
Curious, Ye Xin asked Lin Qian, "Xiao Qian, why do they all seem so ordinary? Shouldn't their presence be more overwhelming?"
"That's because they're suppressing their energy with their soul power. Otherwise, the pressure from their auras would be too much for your soul fragment to bear," Lin Qian explained with a smile. "As the Emperor, I'm immune to their energy."
Just then, a hearty laugh echoed from outside the hall. As the source of the laughter entered the hall, the figure knelt before Lin Qian, saying, "Your Majesty, I, Ao Zun, apologize for being late! Please forgive me!"
Ye Xin gasped in surprise, covering her mouth when she saw the newcomer.