At dawn on the third day, as the first rays of sunlight struggled to penetrate the metallic dust remaining in the atmosphere and shone on this ravaged land, the empire's "purification" and "harvest" began.
Enormous, mountain-like Imperial landing ships silently tore through the sky, descending upon key nodes across the continent. Following closely behind were tens of millions of "Divine Craftsman" series construction golems and fully automated engineering machinery.
These cold, steel creations have become the new rulers of this land.
Their first task is "cleaning up".
After receiving Pangu's emotionless ultimatum, Lilith's demon army, though still harboring resentment, quickly restrained their atrocities and, led by their respective demon generals, retreated to designated areas, awaiting teleportation back to their barracks in the demon-contaminated zone. Lilith dared not disobey Lin Feng's will in the slightest.
Those low-level monsters who were caught up in the thrill of killing or who had not received orders in time became the first targets of the engineering corps' "cleanup".
There were no warnings, no driving away.
The hundreds-of-meters-tall "Divine Craftsman-III" resource-gathering machine strode heavily across the ruins of a village recently ravaged by monsters. Its massive, excavator-like arm swept lightly across a horde of Deinonychus beasts still devouring corpses.
"boom!"
The alloy arm, weighing several tons and carrying unparalleled kinetic energy, easily crushed the dozen or so Deinonychus beasts, along with the ground beneath their feet, into a bloody pulp. Immediately afterward, countless thick, straw-like pipes extended from the abdomen of the harvester, plunging deeply into the mangled, bloody ground.
The powerful suction force drew in the corpses of monsters, humans, broken bricks, and even contaminated soil, all into the "matter decomposition furnace" within the harvester. There, all organic and inorganic matter was broken down into the most basic elements, becoming nourishment for the Empire's war machines.
This cleanup was efficient, but also ruthless. It made no distinction between friend and foe, or race. In the eyes of the Empire's engineering forces, everything on this land was merely a "resource" that needed to be "processed" and "recycled."
Once the material "waste" has been cleared away, the real "harvest" begins.
The "Population Resource Census and Allocation Force," remotely commanded by Marshal Qin Lan, began its deployment. Their vehicle was a type of floating prison called "The Hive."
Like a comb, they meticulously examined the entire continent, inch by inch. Any survivors discovered, whether human, elf, or dwarf, would be precisely located by the "Sky Eye" orbital reconnaissance satellites. Then, a capture team composed of "Divine Soldiers" mechs and clone security forces would descend from the sky.
Resistance is pointless.
In an elven sanctuary hidden deep in the mountains, hundreds of surviving elven rangers attempt to protect their people with their last "magic arrows."
However, what they faced was an entire squadron of "divine soldiers" mechs.
The mechs' energy shields easily blocked the arrows. Then, the "riot sonic cannons" mounted on their shoulders were activated simultaneously.
"Buzz—"
An invisible, high-frequency infrasound instantly enveloped the entire valley. The elves' prized, acute hearing became their most fatal weakness. Their eardrums ruptured instantly, and their brains vibrated violently within their skulls. Countless elves, without even a chance to scream, bled from all seven orifices and fainted.
Immediately afterwards, the security forces stepped forward and used energy shackles to lock the unconscious elves one by one, dragging them onto the "Hive" transport ship like livestock.
Inside the "Hive" are cold, metal tunnels that reek of disinfectant. Here, the captured "trophies" will undergo their first and most humiliating transformation as "second-class citizens of the Empire."
They would be stripped naked, regardless of gender, and forcibly placed into a device called a "purification and information input chamber." High-pressure liquid containing nanobots would flush their bodies, washing away all "dirt" and repairing wounds deemed "unworthy of research." Next, a cold probe would be inserted into the back of their neck to read their basic physiological information, while a biochip for identification and location would be implanted.
From then on, they lost their names and were left with only a cold number consisting of letters and numbers.
The elf Elaria, once Sylvanas of the Silvermoon Forest, a noble priestess of the moon, now huddled in a corner of a vast prison cell within the Hive, along with hundreds of other elven women, her eyes filled with emptiness and despair. She had just endured it all. Her number was "EL-734".
She looked at her fellow beings around her. Those once proud and elegant elves were now huddled together naked, trembling like lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Tears streamed down their beautiful faces, but they no longer had the strength to even cry.
After "purification" and "information entry", comes "classification".
The screening system, controlled by the AI "Pangu", will assign each person to different "resource categories" based on their race, age, physical condition, and genetic profile.
Robust dwarven men, renowned for their strength and stamina, are classified as "A-grade mineral resources." Their ultimate destination is the Empire's mines located in various resource star systems. There, they will toil until they die.
Dwarven rune artisans who possess certain special skills are classified as "C-level technical resources." They are sent to the Empire's armories to serve the Empire under close surveillance.
Most human males are of mediocre physical condition and have no special value. They are classified as "D-level labor resources" and will be assigned to various colony planets to perform the most basic and arduous construction work.
All women, especially those elven women with beautiful appearances and excellent genes, are uniformly classified as the highest level – “S-level genetic resources”.
When a golden "S" mark was branded onto Elaria's wrist, the way the Imperial soldiers around her looked at her changed. It was no longer the look of someone looking at a prisoner of war, but the look of someone looking at something incredibly precious, incredibly rare, a "tribute" about to be offered to the supreme ruler.
She and all the other women marked "S-class" were taken from their ordinary cells and sent to a "special resource warehouse" with a relatively comfortable environment but stricter supervision. Here, they would receive the best food and the most meticulous "care".
Because their bodies, their wombs, no longer belong to them. They will become the most important part of the empire's reproductive plan, the highest reward for the empire's heroes, contributing everything they have to the empire's continuation.
Over the next month, tens of millions of "human resources" were efficiently "harvested" by the Empire from every corner of the Land of Light, sorted, and loaded into massive transport ships.
Meanwhile, the capital of Chengtian was immersed in an unprecedented, overwhelming frenzy.
"Victory! Great victory!"
"His Majesty personally led the expedition, and in the blink of an eye, the false god was annihilated!"
"This once desolate land of holy light, bathed in the glory of the empire, has been reborn!"
The power of the Empire's propaganda matrix was brought to its fullest potential. The earth-shattering battle between Lin Feng and Leo was edited into countless versions, accompanied by the most rousing music and the most inflammatory narration, and played continuously for 24 hours a day on hundreds of millions of holographic screens in every corner of Chengtian City.
In the scene, Lin Feng's majestic figure, crushing the "Suppression Blade," uprooting the "Dragon Tooth Mountain Range," and striking down the "Sky Hammer," is portrayed as an omnipotent and supreme true god. Leo, on the other hand, is depicted as a foolish, futile, and rebellious "false god" and "rebel" who tries to stop the chariot with his bare hands.
All the citizens of the empire felt an unparalleled sense of pride and honor in being able to live under the protection of such a "god".
The entire capital city of Chengtian was transformed into a sea of joy. The month-long "Holy Light Liberation Celebration" allowed every citizen to put down their work. The Imperial government distributed the most delicious synthetic food and the finest wines to all citizens free of charge. Every day, a magnificent light show composed of millions of drones recreated the "glorious" scenes of the final battle in the city's skies.
Young Imperial citizen Kyle and his friends stood on either side of the "Nine Heavens Avenue," awaiting the climax of today's celebrations—the "Victory Parade" and the "New Citizens' Entry Ceremony."
"Kyle, look! It's the 'God's Might' class capital ship of the First Expeditionary Fleet!" His friend shouted excitedly, pointing to a huge warship that looked like a floating city slowly passing by in the sky.
Kyle looked up, his eyes filled with adoration. He was a young man born and raised in the empire's most glorious era. In his mind, the empire was the center of the universe, and Emperor Lin Feng was the truth of the universe. The empire's expansion and conquest of backward, barbaric civilizations were "spreading the gospel," "liberating" them. This was unquestionable, absolute justice.
“It’s magnificent…” Kyle murmured to himself, “I really hope that one day I can join the fleet, follow in His Majesty’s footsteps, and expand the empire’s territory!”
Just then, the crowd erupted in an even more enthusiastic cheer.
The ground formations for the military parade have arrived.
Leading the way was a legion of three million "divine soldiers" mechs clad in dark gold full-body power armor. Their perfectly synchronized steps caused the entire Nine Heavens Avenue to tremble slightly. The cold metallic sheen of their armor and the particle rifles gleaming with energy in their hands represented the empire's invincible military power.
Closely following behind was Lilith's demonic army. Those abyss lords, dinosaurs, and gargoyles that were like nightmares in the Land of Holy Light were now bound by specially made energy shackles of the Empire, obediently following behind Lilith's magnificent skeletal throne like tamed wild beasts. Their presence demonstrated to all citizens the Empire's absolute power to completely control even "chaos" and "evil."
When the last formation of the parade appeared, the entire avenue fell into an eerie silence, a silence tinged with awe and greed.
Those were "newly minted citizens" from the land of holy light.
They are elves.
Tens of thousands of the most beautiful, carefully selected elven women were all dressed in exotic long gowns made of translucent, shimmering silk. Around their necks, wrists, and ankles, they wore exquisite golden shackles symbolizing their submission.
Their appearances were so perfect, as if they did not belong to the mortal world. Their pointed ears, slender figures, fair skin that was almost transparent, and their eyes, which were like pools of water, full of melancholy and sorrow, all created an unprecedented visual impact on the citizens of Chengtian City.
Elaria was at the very front of the group.
She could feel the countless, undisguised gazes, filled with scrutiny, desire, and possessiveness, emanating from both sides of the avenue. Those gazes, like countless invisible needles, pierced her skin, making her feel endless humiliation and disgust.
She thought of her homeland, the nights she prayed under the moonlight, and her people who had fallen to protect her. Tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
However, her tear was interpreted in a different way by the citizens of the empire.
"My God, they are so beautiful...they are like works of art!"
"Look at the leader, she's crying! That weak and helpless look of hers is just...so exciting!"
"I've heard that only the generals with the most outstanding military achievements and the nobles who have made great contributions to the empire are qualified to receive the elves bestowed by His Majesty. How envious I am!"
Kyle was stunned. He had never seen such a beautiful creature. Listening to the surrounding chatter, the pride of conquest mingled with a possessive desire stemming from masculine instinct. Looking at Elaria's tear-streaked face, he felt not pity, but a powerful, twisted desire to hold this "work of art" in his arms and make her cry only for him.
Like all other citizens of the empire, he subconsciously ignored the ashen despair in the eyes of these "works of art."
In their view, being conquered by the great Holy Star Empire and becoming part of the empire was the highest honor for these "backward races".
Their sorrow and their tears are nothing more than the most magnificent decorations to adorn this grand celebration.
The celebration of this victory reached its climax when the transport ships arrived in Chengtian City and began to "distribute" the tens of millions of "human resources".
A grand ceremony of "awarding medals and bestowing honors" was held in a huge square, resembling the Colosseum in ancient Rome.
Imperial Marshal Qin Lan, expressionless, read out the names of the generals and nobles who had rendered meritorious service in this war of conquest.
"...Admiral Howard, Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Third Fleet, is hereby promoted to Imperial First-Class Admiral for his decisive command and outstanding achievements in the annihilation battle of the 'City of High Heavens', Elphaheim, and is awarded with 'S-Class Genetic Resources' for ten female Elven races!"
"boom!"
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted in the square.
Ten elven girls, like those in Elaria, were shackled and led by Imperial soldiers like merchandise to the burly General Howard.
A satisfied, greedy smile spread across General Howard's face. He stepped forward, roughly grabbed the chin of one of the elven girls, and forced her to look up, scrutinizing her as if she were a piece of merchandise.
“Indeed, Your Majesty is truly generous.” He laughed heartily and bowed deeply towards the throne.
Lin Feng was not present. He didn't even watch the celebration held for him via holographic projection.
To him, this revelry was as meaningless as the joys and sorrows of the ants beneath his feet.
Such rewards were repeated over the next few hours.
Thousands upon thousands of elven, human, and dwarven women were thus treated as objects and bestowed upon the meritorious officials of the empire. Their fate would be to utterly perish in the harems of those imperial nobles.
Those men categorized as "laborers" and "mining slaves" were sent on another batch of transport ships to the Empire's most remote and arduous resource planets. What awaited them was endless forced labor and a slow, desperate death.
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