The banquet hall of Chengtian Palace was so luxurious that it would make any emperor in the history of Earth feel ashamed.
Above the dome, instead of lights, was a miniature, real nebula bound by Lin Feng's telekinesis, with countless tiny stars slowly swirling within, emitting a soft and dreamlike glow.
The ground is paved with a single piece of warm jade from the depths of an alien planet. Walking barefoot on it, you can feel a gentle energy slowly seeping into your body.
The banquet was served in individual portions, with each person eligible to attend having a long table made of gold and agate placed in front of them.
The tableware on the table was spotless silver, and the dishes served on it were extremely rare and precious.
There are the tenderest pork tenderloin from giant beasts, bird eggs from birds flying at an altitude of 10,000 meters, and "Drunken Heart Mushrooms" cultivated by Qian Xiaoxiao's team, which can emit a faint aroma of wine.
Lin Feng leaned back on the enormous white jade throne at the head of the banquet hall. He had changed out of his formal daytime attire and was now casually draped in a black silk robe.
There was no long table in front of him, only a small rosewood table.
Qian Xiaoxiao was kneeling beside him, peeling a translucent alien shrimp that looked like a work of art, carefully dipping it in a special sauce, and bringing it to his lips.
To his left sat Su Wanqing. She had changed into a more magnificent red palace dress, adorned with a phoenix hairpin and a cinnabar dot between her brows, exuding the demeanor of a "queen."
Although delicacies were laid out in front of her, she hardly touched any of them. Instead, she held a glass of scarlet "Blood Bodhi" wine, brewed from alien berries, and her gaze occasionally swept over everyone present, a reserved yet dignified smile playing on her lips.
To her right was Qin Lan, still in military uniform but without her weapons.
She wasn't quite comfortable in this setting, and her posture remained as straight as a pine tree.
She didn't touch the elaborately crafted dishes, but instead drank large gulps of ale, her gaze occasionally meeting Su Wanqing's in the air, sparking an invisible flame.
"Gentlemen," Lin Feng swallowed the shrimp meat, lazily raised his wine glass, his voice not loud, but instantly drowning out all the conversations in the hall, "Today is a great joy for my kingdom."
"To His Majesty! To the Kingdom!" Led by Wang Dachui, a group of officials from the Ministry of Industry and the Cabinet immediately stood up, raised their glasses, and looked fervent.
Lin Feng nodded in satisfaction and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Su Wanqing put down her wine glass and spoke softly, her voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone's ears: "Your Majesty, the success of the celebration is only the first step towards our glory."
"The Propaganda Department has formulated a follow-up 'Divine Grace Broadcast' plan to produce high-quality video footage of today's grand occasion and broadcast it continuously for 24 hours a day to all newly developed colonies, mines, and farms within the kingdom. The goal is to ensure that every citizen, no matter where they are, can always bask in the glory of their leader and have loyalty and faith engraved into their very bones."
Her words were impeccable, highlighting her own achievements while attributing all the glory to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng smiled noncommittally: "Granted. You must firmly occupy this cultural front."
Upon hearing this, Qin Lan snorted coldly. She put down her wine cup, which made a crisp sound as it collided with the jade table, attracting everyone's attention.
She looked directly at Lin Feng, her voice booming: "Leader, images are ultimately illusions. True loyalty is forged in blood on the battlefield. My Iron Blood Legion's 30,000 soldiers, along with the 10,000 eager recruits in the training camp, are the kingdom's most solid foundation!"
I propose that, immediately after the celebration, we launch the 'Thunder' exercise plan, using the newly equipped 'Ice Wolf' tank regiment as the spearhead, to conduct a preventative, devastating cleanup of all known monster lairs within 300 kilometers east of the Sanctuary! Let the enemy's remains serve as the perfect sacrifice for 'Day of Grace'!
Su Wanqing's expression changed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and smiled, "General Qin's loyalty and bravery are well known. However, our kingdom is currently in dire need of rebuilding, and the birth rate is hitting new highs. It is precisely the time when we need to recuperate and rebuild."
"Would such a large-scale conflict affect our hard-won stability? After all, putting the happiness and well-being of our people first has always been the leader's highest directive, hasn't it?"
"That's a woman's view!" Qin Lan retorted without hesitation. "Only by nipping all threats in the bud can we achieve true stability! Waiting until a threat grows stronger before dealing with it will only cost us a hundredfold!"
“You…” A hint of anger flashed in Su Wanqing’s phoenix eyes.
"alright."
Lin Feng's two simple words instantly dispelled the tense atmosphere. The two women immediately fell silent and respectfully lowered their heads.
Lin Feng's gaze swept over the two women, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He enjoyed this feeling, watching two equally intelligent and stunningly beautiful women vying for his attention—it amused him more than any entertainment program.
"Qin Lan's 'Thunder' plan is very necessary." He first affirmed Qin Lan's position.
A hint of joy appeared on Qin Lan's face.
“However,” Lin Feng changed the subject, “Wan Qing’s concerns are also quite reasonable. Now is the time for revelry.”
He reached out his hand, and Qian Xiaoxiao immediately understood, placing a peeled, translucent purple fruit into his mouth.
He chewed slowly, saying, "'Thunder' Plan, postpone it. We'll deal with it after the celebration ends and the people's emotions are fully released. As for those little bugs in the east..."
He paused, his tone carrying an unquestionable, godlike arrogance, "They can't cause any trouble. My army, my 'Black Tortoise' tanks, can crush them at any time. Now, let's not let these unpleasant topics disturb our banquet."
"Yes, Leader." Qin Lan and Su Wanqing replied respectfully at the same time, but their feelings were worlds apart.
Lin Feng smiled with satisfaction. He patted Qian Xiaoxiao's head, and the latter rubbed her cheek against his palm like a docile kitten.
At the end of the banquet, Wang Dachui, his face flushed from drinking, staggered to the center of the hall, raised his wine glass, and roared, "Your Majesty! To celebrate this great victory! I...I propose! To set off...the grandest fireworks display in the history of the kingdom!"
"Granted!" Lin Feng waved his hand, his heroic spirit soaring.
With his command, an instruction was sent to the shelter's weapons control center.
The next second, dozens of "Thor" long-range rocket launchers, equipped with specially designed pyrotechnic warheads, roared into the sky from their launch sites outside the city.
The rockets exploded tens of thousands of meters in the sky, forming not ordinary fireworks, but huge, lifelike patterns composed of light.
There were silhouettes of soldiers charging into battle from the Ironblood Legion, and the majestic outline of the "Black Tortoise" tank. In the end, all the light converged and formed Lin Feng's enormous face, overlooking all living beings, against the purple night sky.
At this moment, tens of thousands of people in the capital city of Chengtian left their homes and flooded the streets. They knelt down and offered their most devout worship to the "face of God" composed of light in the sky.
The thunderous shouts of "Long live Your Majesty!" once again resounded through the heavens.
Lin Feng stood on the terrace of Chengtian Hall, arms outstretched, looking down at the subjugated world below, listening to the worship and praise from thousands of people. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The air is filled with the fragrance of power, desire, extravagance, and victory.
He was completely absorbed in it and couldn't extricate himself.
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