Chapter 400

The ashes of Qínfāng Garden cooled completely in the wind, and what followed was an indescribable, subtle transformation within the borders of the Chen dynasty.

Those hazy shadows that had lingered faintly in the hearts of some officials, like morning mist dispersed by sunlight, quietly dissipated;

On the frontier, the False Song's probing harassment ceased entirely, and both sides of the light curtain fell into a strange tranquility;

Even the recovery speed of the 'bone-eroded' regions across the lands seemed to quicken a bit.

In the court, the new emperor Chen Hong keenly perceived this change.

Although he did not know the specific cause, he could feel that the originally tense fortune meridians of the nation's fate seemed to have become smoother and more resilient.

"Your Majesty, spring planting proceeds smoothly across the lands, post-disaster reconstruction is also on track, and the people's hearts are gradually stabilizing."

The Minister of Revenue presented the latest statistical documents, his tone carrying a long-lost ease.

"The Ministry of Works has, according to plan, transported the third batch of 'miasma-dispelling devices' to the various prefectures of Hebei; reports indicate the spread of the 'pestilential qi' has been effectively controlled."

Zhao Ting's report also brought good news.

"The northern borders are secure, and trade routes are gradually reopening."

The Ministry of War's brief was short yet powerful.

Chen Hong gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping over the officials below, whose demeanor had been renewed, and spoke calmly.

"This is the strength of the officials and the myriad people united. Yet the road ahead is still long; our Great Chen should take this as an opportunity to rest and recuperate, to accumulate national strength."

In his words, one could no longer hear much of the youthful emperor's inexperience; instead, there was a steady authority.

The court audience ended in a slightly exalted atmosphere.

Chen Hong alone entered the imperial study, gazing out at the recovering palace city.

He knew that this quietly arrived state of stability was certainly no coincidence.

It must be that hidden force behind the scenes, once again clearing a crucial obstacle for him and for this Great Chen.

An indescribable complex emotion surged in his heart—gratitude, reliance, and moreover an urgent need to quickly stand on his own.

Hidden mountain villa, inside the quiet chamber.

Chen Wen sat cross-legged, his mind and spirit completely sinking into his body.

Deep in his consciousness, the light bar representing growth progress was flawless and radiant, like a dam brimming with floodwater, awaiting only the final thread of trigger to burst through the barrier.

He adjusted his breathing, pushing the effect of Lv. 1 (2x) to the extreme, not for strength or thought, but focusing entirely on 'inner vision' and 'comprehension'.

Perceiving the subtle connection between himself and this heaven and earth, and with the dynasty's fortune in the unseen;

Perceiving the deeper-level rule, after the system reset, concerning the growth of his own essence;

There was no earth-shaking momentum, no blinding portent.

Only a natural course, as inevitable as water reaching its channel and melons falling when ripe.

Like a seed breaking soil, a chick hatching from its shell.

At a certain tranquil moment.

"Crack—"

A faint sound, audible only to himself, emanating from the depths of his soul, came.

The radiance of the progress bar, filled to the extreme, suddenly retracted inward, then transformed into a purer, more mighty energy that swept through his limbs and bones, washing every inch of sinew and nourishing every fragment of spirit!

【Growth progress has reached the critical point.】

【System level raised to Lv. 2.】

【Base multiplier effect increased to: 4x.】

【Growth Progress Bar has been reset.】

【New feature 'Shi Yong' unlocked.】

Done!

Chen Wen's eyes snapped open, a sharp light flashing in his pupils before instantly returning to depth.

He slowly clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.

4x base effect!

Compared to Lv. 1, this is an all-around, qualitative leap!

Strength, speed, endurance, reaction, and even the agility and breadth of thought have all ascended to an entirely new level.

If before he was merely slightly stronger than an ordinary person, now he truly possesses a foundation transcending the mundane.

But this is not the greatest gain of this breakthrough.

The greatest change comes from the newly unlocked 'Shi Yong'!

This is a new change produced by the system reset; previously, at Lv. 2 (4x), such a function did not exist.

This is just like how the WP value previously turned into the progress bar.

It is a change stemming from an upgrade in the system's essential quality.

His thoughts stirred slightly as he attempted to activate this feature.

In an instant, the world he 'saw' changed!

The quiet chamber remained as before, but in his perception the entire mountain villa seemed shrouded in a thin yet resilient veil of pale gold light.

This light was warm, righteous, full of vitality, faintly connected to the earth's veins beneath his feet, and resonated distantly with the direction of Bianjing.

"This is... the Fortune Momentum of Great Chen?"

Chen Wen understood clearly in his heart.

He could feel that this light, though dimmed by prior consumption, still had its foundation intact and was slowly and firmly recovering, like the earth returning to spring, growing naturally.

And when his perception extended farther, the sight became even more extraordinary.

Across the vast expanse of territory, the overwhelming majority of regions were suffused with that thin pale gold.

But in certain areas, there existed 'stains' of varying density!

Near the northern border, close to the light curtain, scattered are several tiny dark specks constantly trying to erode the pale golden radiance—these are the traces left by the False Song and the Iron Crow Army's continual infiltration and provocation, and also the source of the border's unrest.

In the interior, especially the several prefectures previously hit hardest by disaster, larger and darker gray areas are distributed, like ulcers on a body, exuding an uncomfortable aura of decay and death.

"The source of the bone‑corrosion…!"

Chen Wen's eyes narrowed.

These gray zones basically match the "bone‑corrosion" disaster zones marked in Qian Gui's earlier intelligence, but they are more precise, and one can even faintly sense the direction and strength of their core points!

Moreover, he can "see" that in some important cities and passes, the pale golden radiance becomes noticeably richer, like a hub node;

while in remote mountains and rivers and abandoned ancient roads, the radiance is relatively thin.

The flow of the dynasty's fortune, its strong points and weak points, formed for the first time in his mind such an intuitive, clear picture!

This "initial sense of fortune momentum," though unable to directly move fortune momentum, gave him a "heavenly eye" that could perceive the whole situation!

He slowly withdrew his perception, took a deep breath, and suppressed the excitement in his heart.

This ability means far too much for those guardians who lurk in the shadows!

"Come in."

Chen Wen spoke in a low voice.

Qian Gui entered at the call, immediately noticing that Chen Wen's aura was markedly different—more restrained and even more unfathomable.

"My lord, you…"

"Some progress."

Chen Wen said calmly, without elaborating on the details of the upgrade, and gave the order directly.

"Effective immediately, adjust our side's resource allocation and action priorities."

He quickly pointed to several locations on the rough map—exactly the core points of those gray areas he had just sensed.

"These places suffer the deepest bone‑corrosion; they must be purified first, with double the amount of 'Mist‑Dispelling Devices' and medical supplies invested."

"Moreover, these several dark spots on the border,"

He then pointed to several faint stains near the light curtain.

"Add detection personnel, focus monitoring; if the Iron Crow Army makes any move, it will surely come from here."

Qian Gui watched Chen Wen's fingertip land, his heart shaken beyond words.

Some of these locations match known intelligence, but several others have not yet been fully confirmed, or even valued, by the Jing'an Office!

"How did my lord come to know this? And so precisely, as if he had seen it with his own eyes?"

But he knew the rules, suppressed his doubts, and solemnly accepted the order.

"Yes! I'll see to it at once!"

Chen Wen's gaze swept over Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, Shi Dun, and Zhao Lao Nian, who had rushed over upon hearing the news.

Although they did not know the specifics, they also felt the change in Chen Wen's aura, and the inner‑out calm confidence that now showed more clearly.

"Gentlemen,"

Chen Wen spoke, his voice steady.

"External threats have eased for now, internal wounds are gradually healing; this is a chance to catch our breath, and also a time to solidify our foundations."

His gaze grew distant.

"On the surface, a new emperor holds the heavens and earth; we who dwell in darkness should look further ahead."

He paused briefly, then for the first time revealed a deeper layer of his plan to the five senior officials.

"The Mirror‑Image Zhongyuan where the False Song resides strictly follows its historical script. Its key figures and key events might… someday be usable by us; at the very least, we must know them thoroughly."

He didn't spell it out plainly, but Zhang Cheng, Wang Ru, and the others' expressions shifted, as if in thought.

"Intervening in the historical nodes of the 'Script Song' on a microscopic scale?"

"That idea is bold and ahead of its time, yet not impossible!"

"We understand your meaning, my lord."

Zhang Cheng spoke on behalf of everyone.

"Intelligence gathering and infiltration will be laid out as soon as possible."

Chen Wen nodded.

The guardians' system, after this period of adjustment, has now fully entered normal operation.

Light and dark work in parallel, each fulfilling its duty, complementing each other.

And he himself has finally passed the system reset's most difficult initial accumulation stage, stepped into Level 2, and mastered the crucial "initial sense of fortune momentum."

A new era quietly begins beneath the calm surface.

The road ahead remains long, strong enemies still surround us.

But the spark of hope is already held in our hands.