Chapter 1: Arrival in the Holy Capital (Preface)

What I did not expect was that in the outside world, one cannot move an inch without money. Before long, the money was nearly spent. What I find most unfair is that the animal skins sold from our village, priced at fifty copper coins each, are sold for hundreds or even thousands of taels outside. If I had brought a black bear skin from home.

Originating from the Northwest Plateau, the Liuhua River flows through endless majestic snow-capped mountains. It stretches three miles wide and reaches a depth of one hundred zhang, with its waters crystal clear and rushing directly into the Southeast Sea. The banks are adorned with lush green grass, and countless vibrant flowers and trees thrive. The wind stirs the flowers, causing petals and tender leaves to fall into the river, creating a mesmerizing scene where the entire Liuhua River is intertwined with blossoms, captivating the eye with its beauty. The entire continent is thus named Liuhua Continent, having abandoned its original name for over ten thousand years.

A young scholar, elegantly dressed in a blue robe, smiled and nodded at us, saying: "Starting today, you are not to come here for work, as this business is preparing to close its doors."

During my daily breaks, I attentively listen to my companions' grand tales from all corners of the world... For instance, the foremost gang in the Holy Capital, the Heavenly Gate, the world's number one swordsman, "Dragon Sword" Shen Fei, and the top sorcerer of the Celestial Empire, Jin Wu Dan Shi, among many others

Although the current emperor, Emperor Shenren, possesses a hesitant and indecisive character, is overly ambitious, greedy for wealth, and indulgent in lust, m.hetushu.com is the foundation of the Celestial Empire that has lasted for millennia, how could it be undermined by trivial matters? Countless loyal ministers and righteous individuals continue to uphold the foundation of this ancient empire

Well, old ghost, did you foresee this situation long ago, which is why you made me vow not to use martial arts for a year? ... However, the year will soon come to an end...

Suddenly, from the painted boat on the river, bursts of exclamations arose. Looking up at the sky, fine, delicate snowflakes began to fall down.

Heaven, are you also trembling for my ambition

A large man in a black tight-fitting outfit slowly approached, gently placing his palm on the stone pillar in front of us. In an instant, a palm print, about an inch deep, appeared on the pillar. We all dared not speak. The man grinned menacingly and said, "Why? Your boss actually refused to deliver goods to our door. Don't you think he's asking for trouble?"

Outside the cargo hall, more than 10 robust men dressed in high-ranking constabulary uniforms saw the scholar and all nodded and bowed in greeting. They then rushed over, like wolves and tigers, seized the boss, and charged him with the crime of smuggling, taking him away on the spot

Such days continued until winter set in, and then everything changed

Am I being too arrogant? No, since I have come this far, and given that I possess ambition, intellect, and abilities that are not inferior to anyone else's, why should I necessarily live at the bottom of society? If I do not take flight, I will soar to great heights.

The largest river in the Liuhua Continent, Liuhuachuan, has become a sacred place for officials and nobles to enjoy the scenery and admire beauty

Feeling the remaining three coins and eight cents of silver in my pocket, I looked at the patrolling soldiers eyeing the wide road that could accommodate 10 horse-drawn carriages. I quickly walked into a narrow alley and found a small shop to stay in. It costs 5 cents of silver per day, including meals. I smiled wryly, estimating that the money on me could only support a few more days of food and lodging. I must find something to do.

I felt a surge of warmth in my heart, and suddenly stepped forward, slowly saying: "It is fine not to work, but the boss must pay us for the previous 10 days of wages first." The burly man glared at me, ready to strike. The scholar shouted, then walked over with a smile, deftly picking up a piece of silver from the ground with the tip of his foot, handing it to me, and gently saying: "This is only right; it is your boss who has offended us, not you. You should go and collect your wages for the previous 10 days yourselves." He nodded slightly and turned to leave.

The Celestial Empire spans 7,000 miles from east to west and 6,000 miles from north to south, occupying the most fertile lands of the Flowery Continent. Surrounding it are dozens of small nations that are vassals, forming a tributary system. Although there are disturbances from nomadic tribes in the north and invasions from barbaric tribes in the south, the entire Celestial Empire remains vibrant and its national strength continues to rise.

The Central Plains Celestial Empire, with its capital Shengjing situated adjacent to the Liuhua River, is traversed by a tributary that flows from the southwest into the Liuhua River. The nearby Liuhua Plain is the most beautiful and fertile land on the entire continent. Scattered across the vast plain, which spans a thousand miles, are countless majestic mountains, lush forests, and tranquil lakes. Dozens of grand cities rise above, forming the economic center and the core of power of the Celestial Empire

Until the money on me was about to run out, I found a job carrying burlap bags at a freight company. Each bag of goods was worth ten copper coins, and I could carry three hundred bags in a day, which amounted to an income of three silver coins. This was enough for me to live a relatively decent life. Three silver coins is considered a considerable amount of wealth in our village.

Standing by the flowing Liuhua River, watching the luxurious painted boats of the powerful families glide by on the water, with elegantly dressed men and women endlessly drinking and reveling aboard, I silently vowed: "One day, I will make this river change color because of me. I will command the heavens to obey my will. I will make the earth tremble for my sake. The common people will regard me as a deity. The powerful will crawl like dogs before me."

A companion loudly asked: "Why? If we do not come to work, what will we eat and drink?"

I vividly remember that morning when I had breakfast outside the cargo area, consuming two pounds of noodles. Then, while chatting and laughing with a few companions, we headed to work, only to be taken aback by the sight of several burly men with stern expressions wreaking havoc in the lobby. The owner, pale as death, stood by, paralyzed with fear, watching helplessly as they took down the sign and smashed it to pieces with a single blow. What incredible strength! That sign was made of a century-old black sandalwood from the Tianshan Mountains in Northwest China, only slightly softer than fine iron.

The cargo ship with its tall mast sails downstream along the Liuhua River, transporting various goods to the capital. We stand by the banks of the Liuhua River, admiring the beautiful waters as the goods are unloaded into the warehouses at the dock

In the year , on the fifteenth day of the tenth month of the Celestial Empire's sacred calendar, the capital of the Celestial Empire, which has always enjoyed a spring-like climate, was suddenly blanketed in heavy snow. For the first time in ten thousand years, the flowing waters of Liuhua River outside the capital froze. The Celestial Empire's foremost sorcerer, Jin Wudan, howled in anguish for a day and a night, then abandoned his position as the national protector and disappeared without a trace, retreating into the deep mountains, with no knowledge of his fate.

The next day, there was still no progress

In the warm spring of March, the grass grows lush and the orioles fly, with a profusion of blooming flowers

The first gang of Shengjing, spanning both the underworld and the upper echelons, is known as Tianmen, which reports to the powerful and oppresses the common people. They are the ones dispatched from there

Behind me, the sounds of the Han men tearing down houses and breaking walls were incessant. Gripping the three taels and nine coins of silver in my hand, I slowly walked out with the *illustration* book. In the past 10 days, this was all the wages I had earned through my sweat. There were countless pieces of silver scattered on the ground, but I only took what I was entitled to.

As a young man, I harbored a certain ambition to soar. Having heard too much praise for the merchants who came to the village to purchase furs, I was determined to make a trip to the Holy Capital, hoping to achieve fame at a young age and rise to great heights. My father, in his forties, pondered for two days and nights by the oil lamp. Finally, after I made the vow that I would not use martial arts for a year and would rely entirely on my physical strength to make a living, and that if I could not find a reason to draw my sword after a year, I would never use it again, he gave me all the family's savings—three taels and two coins of silver—along with two changes of clothes, allowing me to leave that small hunting village deep in the mountains.

I suddenly discovered another important thing, which is power. Without money, you cannot survive; without power, even if you have money, you still cannot survive. It is fine to be without money; as long as you have power, you will immediately become wealthy. It is that simple

On the first day, I could not find anything to do and almost got caught by the patrolling soldiers

I, Yang Wei, 18 years old, am the son of Yang Long, the hunter chief of a small hunting village on the northern border. Carrying a small package, I hesitantly stepped into the Holy Capital. This square city, with a side length of 20 li, is the greatest city in the world, home to millions of residents.