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To be precise, the overall world of Immortal Sword should be judged based on the perspective of Immortal Sword III, which places it at Starlight Rank 9.
This is almost the pinnacle of the Starlight Rank, on a par with Saitama's One-Punch Man world.
In truth, Qin Yi had always harboured doubts about the One-Punch Man world's ranking. Given that Saitama's teacher is so strong, he probably surpasses the Starlight Rank. After some speculation, Qin Yi concluded that the world's entire essence must be concentrated within Saitama himself, resulting in a comparatively low overall power level.
The Shinigami world is ranked two tiers higher than Immortal Sword I, but the actual disparity is immeasurable despite the small numerical difference.
"Summon Li Yuanli!"
After a moment's deliberation, Qin Yi decided against acting rashly and instead summoned Li Yuanli directly.
Sending ministers or generals to worlds that surpassed Qin's Nation's current civilization rank would be exceedingly dangerous. It would also be inappropriate for Qin Yi himself to rush in rashly.
As a monarch, Qin Yi had personally led military campaigns in his early years. However, as civilization advanced, he now sought to avoid putting himself in harm's way. As the leader of a civilisation, his life was more precious than anyone else's.
A guard swiftly delivered the summons. About fifteen minutes later, Li Yuanli arrived via the Imperial Palace's Teleportation Array.
"Your Majesty, what summons me?" Li Yuanli asked with a smile.
The past few months had been remarkably smooth for him. His power in the Immortal Sword World had surged far beyond his previous cultivation realm, and with Qin's Nation's support, he had recently conquered over a dozen lower-tier worlds, fully replenishing his starlight.
"How has Xiyao been lately?" Qin Yi asked gravely, glancing at Li Yuanli.
"Your Majesty, you can rest assured. With me watching over her, Princess Xiyao is perfectly safe. She's currently training hard with the Night Raid group." Li Yuanli spoke up.
"Hm!" Qin Yi nodded and said directly, "I need you to go to the Shinigami World."
"Shinigami?" Li Yuanli froze, his expression shifting to shock. "You mean the Starlight Level 7 world?"
"Exactly! Are you confident that you can do this? I have the highest expectations of you!" Before Li Yuanli could refuse, Qin Yi cut him off, his eyes fixed piercingly on him.
"I... er... can I refuse?" Li Yuanli asked awkwardly.
He dreaded risky missions like this more than anything.
"What do you think? However, I can make you a promise!" Qin Yi's lips curved into a faint, ambiguous smile as he stared at Li Yuanli.
"If I succeed, will you release the King's Minister's Seal?" Li Yuanli asked excitedly.
"If you succeed," Qin Yi declared, "I will grant you dominion over the Shinigami Realm and place the cycle of life and death of the Divine Nation in your hands!"
Ignoring Li Yuanli's words, Qin Yi said indifferently, "Minister Li, you may go now."
Disappointment crossed Li Yuanli's face, but he didn't refuse again. He shrugged.
"Then I shall go and try, Your Majesty!"
Undoubtedly, the Divine Nation's cycle of life and death was of the utmost importance, the very core of its administration.
"Good. We await your good news!" Qin Yi nodded.
Without hesitation, Li Yuanli turned and strode out of the Imperial Palace, heading straight for the Shinigami Realm. After the meeting at the Imperial Palace had finished, Qin Yi set up the Emperor's and Empress's Palace and the Imperial Concubine Palace behind the Imperial Palace.
The Emperor and Empress's palace was empty for the time being, while Inori occupied the Imperial Concubine Palace, with Yan Lingji serving as her attendant and Fu Hōhō managing the palace gardens.
Qin Yi was neither a lecherous nor an insane man. He would never take every beautiful woman into his harem; to do so would make him no better than an animal.
The women who entered the Imperial Concubine Palace, however, were essentially candidates to become imperial consorts.
Before he knew it, a month had passed.
One day, Qin Yi suddenly felt his eyebrows twitch violently. He put down his game of Great Qin Conquest, rose slowly to his feet, looked out over the Imperial Palace, and gazed down at the vast celestial body below.
Qin Nation's planet now bore little resemblance to the vast, empty void it had once been. From this vantage point, the azure oceans, verdant forests, pale yellow deserts, and expansive continents were clearly visible. It was a beautiful, life-filled planet, radiating abundant Spiritual Qi.
And this vast domain belonged to Qin Yi; it was his world!
"Li Yuanli! Is that you?"
Qin Yi's right eyelid twitched violently, and his gaze sharpened with solemnity.
At his level of cultivation, such sudden impulses were instinctive premonitions, but their specific meaning remained elusive. Agitated and restless, he found himself unable to focus on anything else.
"Our King!"
Inori approached him, her delicate fingers massaging his temples and helping him to relax slightly.
"I'm fine," Qin Yi said, "just a little worried."
"Worried about what?" Inori asked, her curiosity piqued.
To her, Qin's nation was a true divine nation, a vast, interconnected system spanning countless worlds, its territories stretching beyond comprehension. As the ruler of such an immense domain, what could Qin Yi possibly fear?
Qin Yi's gaze sharpened as he turned and embraced Inori. After a moment's thought, he smiled again.
"It's nothing, forget about it!"
As a fellow king, Li Yuanli's survival skills far surpassed those of mere ministers and generals. Moreover, he was the strongest of all those beneath Qin Yi in the Qin Nation. Even if Qin Yi was concerned, there was nothing he could do.
"Don't worry," Inori said softly, placing her hands on Qin Yi's chest to comfort him. "You are the Emperor of the Divine Nation. If you show anxiety, what will become of your people?"
"You're right," Qin Yi nodded. "I must remain calm and composed at all times." He gently kissed Inori's forehead.
At the same time, in the Shinigami World:
And in the mortal realm:
Li Yuanli, dressed in a casual suit and pointed leather shoes and wearing earphones, strolled forward, humming a tune.
Having spent some time in this unfamiliar world, Li Yuanli had refrained from rash actions. In fact, he had even rescued a Shinigami who was on the brink of death after being wounded by a Hollow. Though outwardly calm, he knew he was drawing closer to the true power of this world.
"First step: gathering information... successful. Now I need to figure out how to infiltrate the Soul Society!"
Having entered the high-level world of the Immortal Sword, Li Yuanli had gained valuable experience.
In an unfamiliar world, rash actions and revealing one's identity were strictly forbidden, as they would inevitably lead to trouble. The greatest mistakes were impatience and seeking quick success.
Fortunately, he had avoided both pitfalls perfectly.
As long as he avoided these errors, he would have ample time as a King to understand and immerse himself in this world.
Suddenly, Li Yuanli, who was walking towards his home at the end of the street, stopped in his tracks.
His expression shifted subtly, and he froze in place, motionless.
"You've discovered me? How amusing! I never expected you'd set your sights on this world too!"
The icy, mocking voice sent a jolt through Li Yuanli, and his expression shifted to one of surprise and suspicion.
Behind him, a figure slowly materialized from the distorted void below, rising upwards. It was a man wearing a black shihakushō, with sharp, phoenix-like eyes and a katana at his hip.
"King?" Li Yuanli murmured after a moment, his voice low and grave.
"Indeed," the Shihakushō-clad man replied with a smile. "In this boundless cosmos, as vast as the starry river and as deep as the endless sea, what are the odds of two kings crossing paths? Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you agree?"
His footsteps were utterly silent as he approached Li Yuanli. Li Yuanli remained motionless with his back still turned.
"Reveal your identity to me!"
"You may call me King Chengdui! My civilization has already reached Starlight Tier 5, and this world is precisely my target!" King Chengdui of Shihakushō stepped forward and spoke softly.
"I am King Yuanli!" Li Yuanli revealed his identity in kind.
"It's an honor to meet you. Judging by the reiatsu emanating from you, it seems you also hail from a Starlight Tier 5 world. How intriguing."
King Chengdui took another step, closing the distance to Li Yuanli's back.
Li Yuanli narrowed his eyes, his entire being on high alert.
The power of a Starlight Level 5 King was terrifying, one only needed to look at Qin Yi to understand that!
"When two Kings meet, one must yield. Since you arrived first, I shall withdraw for now!"
He declared firmly, deciding to employ a stalling tactic.
"Excellent. King Yuanli, your pragmatism spares me much trouble. To be frank, I have been in this world for over a century, meticulously planning my grand design. I truly wish no one would interfere!" King Chengdui chuckled.
"Then I shall take my leave!" Li Yuanli said in a deep voice.
He shifted his stance, preparing to leave.
But in the next instant, King Chengdui's face twisted into a sneering sneer and he drew the black blade from his waist.
Li Yuanli's longsword was drawn in an instant, and he whirled around.
Bang!
The two weapons clashed, unleashing a torrent of raw energy in all directions. At the point of impact, the ground shattered instantly, splitting into fragments and collapsing into a crater.
"As expected of a Starlight Fifth-Rank King, your senses are truly extraordinary!" King Chengdui sneered.
"Your vile intentions were written all over your face!" Li Yuanli retorted coldly.
"Hahahaha! How amusing, truly amusing!" King Chengdui roared with laughter, but after three breaths, his expression darkened abruptly.
"But since you've strayed into the wrong world, you'll lose your life here!"
The black blade flashed, its slender edge slicing through the air in an instant and grazing Li Yuanli's cheek.
Li Yuanli's figure, light as a willow leaf, darted backwards, retreating swiftly.
"Sword Controlling Technique!"
The longsword pierced the air like a streak of light, reaching the king in an instant. With a flick of his black blade, the king deflected the powerfully charged flying sword.
"Such strength, and you haven't even used it yet!"
King Chengdui swung his black blade, unleashing a torrent of Reiatsu that carved a gash a hundred meters long into the ground.
His face twisted into a savage grin; his lips twitched and his eyes burned with manic excitement. In that moment, he looked utterly insane.
"You must remember... This is the World of Gods!"
Suddenly, King Chengdui took a step forward, dissolving into a streak of light that carried him before Li Yuanli in an instant.
"Shikai! Bloom forth, Sealed Light!"
Screech!
Li Yuanli watched in shock as the mad king's black blade shattered inch by inch, transforming into a slender polearm over three meters long.
"Power Seal!"
The blinding light forced Li Yuanli to squint as he swung his sword to meet the searing radiance of the extended blade. Yet, in an instant, his face twisted in horror as his True Essence became trapped inside his body.
King Chengdui's laughter grew even more manic. 'Hahaha! You dared to touch my blade!"
"You're dead! Your otherworldly strength is useless now, isn't it? I've sealed it all away!"
King Chengdui charged forward with savage strides, his face twisted in a ferocious grimace as he swung the extended blade in a deadly arc.
Li Yuanli's pupils contracted, and he raised his sword again instinctively.
But...
Pfft!
The two figures crossed paths in a blur.
Crimson blood dripped from the air and splattered against the ground.
(End Of This Chapter)