Chapter 975

Compared to the current capital of the Flame Empire, it's nothing.

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of Star Fall Empire has officially abdicated; the imperial family has surrendered ninety-five percent of their land and requests to retain half a percent to sustain their livelihood."

At this moment, a female official stepped forward to report.

"Approved!"

Meng Ying said coolly.

In the following days, the Flame Empire's army remained stationed in Star Fall Empire.

The withdrawal of Star Fall Empire and the Nine Kingdoms' Sects took three days.

During these three days, Meng Ying was not idle; she reorganized Star Fall Empire, turning the Nine Kingdoms into nine provinces of the Flame Empire.

The original eighteen provinces of Star Fall Empire remained unchanged.

Star Fall Empire and the Nine Kingdoms merged into twenty-seven provinces.

The Flame Empire now has forty-five provinces!

In number of provinces, it has surpassed the Eternal Night Empire.

However, the Eternal Night Empire's provinces are all very large; in total area, the Eternal Night Empire still holds a slight advantage!

In population, the Nine Kingdoms combined have two hundred million people; Star Fall Empire itself has one point two billion; together, that's one point four billion.

The Flame Empire's annexation of Star Fall Empire is a classic case of a snake swallowing an elephant!

After swallowing the elephant, the Flame Empire's population now reaches a staggering one point seven billion!

Once half of Zi Yun Empire's territory and five hundred million people are secured, the Flame Empire will possess two point two billion people.

In population size, this is already terrifying!

With such a vast population, once fully stabilized, Lin Yan's divine essence will generate an astonishing amount of faith power every single day!

Daily income may exceed that of a third-tier peak divine lord for an entire year!

"Send someone to issue these two decrees!"

In the palace, Meng Ying ordered.

Yes, Meng Ying once again issued the Reclamation Decree and the Trade Decree.

One stabilizes the commoners; one stabilizes the nobility.

At this moment, Star Fall Empire was still filled with widespread panic.

But once these two decrees were issued, the commoners of Star Fall Empire would be calmed with the greatest speed.

After all, even the Eternal Night Empire had never directly granted land to commoners like this.

For commoners, the War of Faith meant nothing to them; they cared only whether the new god and regime would harm their interests or threaten their personal safety.

The Reclamation Decree not only harmed no interest—it was like manna from heaven.

These commoners would likely be the first to support the Flame Empire's rule.

As for the nobility, many are still imprisoned.

Their armed forces have been sent to the Desert Province as laborers; they themselves are detained, and Meng Ying has no intention of releasing them yet.

To deal with nobility, use the carrot and the stick.

Beat them thoroughly with the stick first, then toss them the carrot—they will be grateful and stabilize quickly.

"Star Fall Empire was taken so quickly?"

In the Flame Empire's capital, upon hearing this news, the fox woman Sister Qing Ling showed a smile of delight.

Immediately, she dispatched large numbers of reserve troops, preparing to send them to Star Fall Empire to maintain order.

After the Star Fall Pantheon surrendered, the forces causing chaos within Star Fall Empire diminished.

Reserve troops are sufficient to hold the situation.

Moreover, Star Fall Empire soon gained a Shankongjian Sect; the Flame Empire's Sacred Domains can arrive at any time.

Meanwhile, the Flame Empire's elite forces were all transported back home.

Now in the Eternal Night Empire, armies from other empires are increasing; we must guard against them plotting against the Flame Empire.

Of course, so far, the two empires that plotted against the Flame Empire have met no good end.

Had their divine lords not pulled back in time, those two divine lords would have faced worse than mere misfortune.

Two more days passed, and Meng Ying returned to the Flame Empire's capital.

The Crown Princess remained in Star Fall Empire's capital to hold the seat.

The Flame Empire now spans an enormous distance from north to south.

To the north, it reaches the Loki Mountains; if flying from south to north, even the fastest airship requires over two days.

When Meng Ying originally sent airships to the Sacred Flame Forest, their speed was slow, so they took several days.

Now, the Flame Empire's newly built airships fly at incredible speed—comparable to the full-speed flight of a spellcaster of Forbidden Spell rank.

Forbidden Spell spellcasters rarely fly at full speed, as it consumes tremendous power; but airships, as long as they have sufficient energy, face no such limitation.

Shortly after Meng Ying returned to the Flame Empire's capital, Lin Yan's Holy Maiden, Anne, found Sister Meng Ying.

"Sister Meng Ying, please help me pray to my god—I wish to return to the Eternal Night Empire."

Anne said.

Meng Ying looked at Anne and asked, "What's wrong, Anne?"

Anne said angrily, "The Iron Horn Empire's army has failed to break through, so they vent their rage on the people of the Eastern Province—they completely destroyed a city, looted all its wealth, killed countless men, and countless women… Now they're attacking my father's territory. Father has mobilized large numbers of warriors to support His Majesty, leaving few troops behind; his lands are about to collapse. I want to return and fight alongside my father."

"What empire is Iron Horn? This is a War of Faith—they're attacking ordinary people!"

Hearing Anne's words, Luo Ying could not help but speak.

"This is no longer a simple War of Faith."

Meng Ying shook her head and said.

She had already learned the truth of this war from Lin Yan.

These empires came from distant lands, attacked the Eternal Night Empire, and suffered heavy defeats; to stabilize troop morale, the Duoban Society would likely adopt this method—allowing their armies to burn, kill, and rape—to boost their soldiers' spirit.

Just as the previous Zi Yun Empire had planned to do.

Otherwise, these expeditionary warriors would have little fighting spirit at all!

Moreover, this time too many empires attacked the Eternal Night Empire; some were too far away to want its land, so they would choose to plunder its wealth.

And all of this meant bloodshed.

"Report, Queen, a magical letter from Empress Tina!"

At that moment, a female official shouted the report.

Meng Ying and the fox girl Sister Qing Ling exchanged glances; instinctively, Meng Ying felt Empress Tina's letter was likely related to the Iron Horn Empire.

Meng Ying opened the letter.

The writing on it was extremely elegant.

This was actually a letter written by Empress Tina herself:

"Honorable Meng Ying, I did not wish to trouble you—this time, the Eternal Night Empire faces too many enemies; you should not be drawn in. The Iron Horn Empire's army is burning, killing, and looting in the eastern provinces, slaughtering countless civilians. I am stretched too thin. If possible, please lend aid. If I can still preserve the Eternal Night Empire after this war, the six eastern provinces may be granted to the Flame Empire."

Meng Ying softly read the letter aloud.

Indeed, it was related to the Iron Horn Empire!

After reading the letter, the several Holy Maidens exchanged glances.

"Holy Maiden, pray. This matter may plunge us fully into the vortex of the Eternal Night Empire, so we must seek the will of our God."

Meng Ying said.

She could of course pray herself.

But in the presence of the fox girl Sister Qing Ling, Meng Ying usually let Sister Qing Ling pray.

This was Meng Ying's respect for Sister Qing Ling.

After all, Sister Qing Ling was Lin Yan's first Holy Maiden, equivalent in status to a high priestess in other churches.

When Meng Ying prayed, she was mostly reporting her cultivation insights to Lin Yan.

Meng Ying now thought only of breaking through to the Third Stage of the Holy Domain as soon as possible.

The faster her strength advanced, the sooner she could meet her God!

Her mastery of spatial laws had grown ever deeper, thanks to Lin Yan's generous bestowals.

Yet she was still some distance from the Third Stage of the Holy Domain.

Sister Qing Ling whispered a prayer.

Not long after, Sister Qing Ling received a reply.

"What did our God say?"