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Smart people are really not easy to deceive...

Chen Qing looked at Shen Qi and wasn’t annoyed.

Some issues were bound to erupt and be resolved sooner or later.

If he couldn’t even convince the person in front of him, there was indeed no point in continuing.

With so many versions of intelligence in his grasp, wasn’t he capable of making a name for himself even as a lone ranger?

In response to the questioning, Chen Qing said straightforwardly, "Honestly, in the current situation, no one in this world has experience, not even me. We can only take it one step at a time. The contradictions you’re talking about are real, but years of reincarnation propaganda have prepared many people psychologically.

Maybe your child is a reincarnate from an unknown past life, or even a reincarnation of one of your ancestors—would you then not dote on them as your own child? "

"That’s because the reincarnates have no memory of their past lives!

!" Shen Qi spoke up: "It’s like the dirty and messy kitchen of a restaurant on the street; as long as you don’t see it with your own eyes, it’s ’out of sight, out of mind.

’ Reincarnation is the same—as long as the other party has no memory, neither you nor I will know, and naturally, we can coexist in harmony. "

"Isn’t that just fine?" Chen Qing laughed. "It’s the same principle. Those who reincarnate have no memory of their past lives. Isn’t that appropriate?"

"Would the sovereign be willing to do this?

" Shen Qi looked at him seriously. This was the crux of the contradiction.

If the others could forget everything from before, then of course they could integrate—in the end, if their memories start anew and their appearances are the same as those around them, who can tell them apart?

"Most can do it..." Chen Qing said earnestly.

"Most... Which means there are still some who would be privileged?" Shen Qi frowned.

"It’s the same for you all," Chen Qing smiled. "Would you be willing to forget your past life and reincarnate after a thousand years?"

Seventh Master Shen: "....."

"Those with high enough cultivation and ample Virtue Power, who can make enough contributions to this world, why not?" Chen Qing also spoke seriously. "What do you think?"

"It sounds good on paper... but would your siblings agree?"

"They must agree..." Chen Qing stood up. "But it depends on whether my trip goes smoothly."

"Where does the sovereign plan to go?"

"Back for a visit..." Chen Qing looked at the two men. "I trust you two the most. In my absence, the internal affairs of Lyuzhou will be temporarily managed by you. If I return successfully, everything will continue as normal. I’ll honour my promise and allow ninety-nine percent of the foreigners to have their memories washed away and reincarnate. Even the special individuals must ensure their identities remain secret, otherwise, I’ll deal with them immediately. "

Shen Qi and Wei Gongcheng exchanged glances. They agreed with Chen Qing’s proposed solution. If he could make it happen, then... they weren’t willing to give up on Jiangnan that easily.

After all, the current prosperity was something they had personally participated in and created together.

Who would want to destroy their own hard work?

But Chen Qing’s words...

"Does the sovereign mean there are risks involved in your return trip?"

"Not small ones..." Chen Qing nodded. "If I can’t make it back..."

Both of them felt a jolt. Was the risk that serious?

Even when the Dragon Palace Secret Realm opened, with such great risks, the sovereign never mentioned the possibility of not returning...

"Don’t be nervous..." Chen Qing smiled. "I’m just saying... "

"It might be better if you didn’t ’just say’..." Shen Qi forced a smile. "It really sets one’s heart racing..."

"Alright then..." Chen Qing laughed. "After I leave, closely watch two places. One is the North; if Zi Yue needs any support, arrange for it immediately. The North is crucial—if we can’t secure a foothold there, even with all our resources, we’ll still be at a disadvantage."

"Is it that serious?" Shen Qi furrowed his brow. He never understood—Jiangnan’s territory was already large; shouldn’t consolidating and profiting from those lands be the immediate priority, then expand elsewhere?

By his estimations, to bring Southeast and West Sea up to Jiangnan’s level would take at least another four or five years. Jumping into the North to provoke those Giant Serpents now was obviously unwise.

But from the look of things, there must be something crucial in the North that required the sovereign to take the risk.

"I understand..." Wei Gongcheng nodded. "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do my utmost to assist with any conditions set by Lady Ziyue."

Chen Qing nodded, then seriously looked at Wei Gongcheng. "Another matter is concerning these new spirit bodies."

Wei Gongcheng’s heart tightened upon hearing this, and he quickly asked, "What does Your Majesty intend for me to do?"

"You will personally control them!" Chen Qing squinted his eyes. "Due to a special treaty, the memories of these five hundred people will not be wiped. However, their existence must not be known to ordinary people. Do you understand what I mean?"

"What if they reveal themselves?"

"Kill!" Chen Qing said without hesitation. "Immediately execute them. The spirit bodies will be suppressed and managed by the underworld authorities to establish fear. Those people are haughty and will not submit to you. Most likely, it will be necessary to ’kill the chicken to scare the monkey.’"

At these words, Wei Gongcheng’s eyes lit up with understanding. It seemed the Sovereign was not merely paying him lip service, treating him on equal footing, and had indeed entrusted him with the power of life and death over his own kin.

Whether it was pretense or not, as long as he remained unchanged, Wei Gongcheng decided he would remain loyal to him.

Shen Qi too was shocked by Chen Qing’s delegation of power, speechless for a long while before seeming to remember something, then asked, "But I heard that there’s another group to be reincarnated in the West Sea?"

"Ah, this group is a bit more special," Chen Qing said with a smile. "They are quite concerned about their own skin color and do not wish to be reincarnated as Central Plains People. There’s no helping it; we must abide by their wishes and let them be reborn into homes of the West Sea barbarians."

"Ah?" Both Shen Qi and Wei Gongcheng were taken aback.

Unwilling to become Central Plains People because of their skin color, preferring to be reincarnated as barbarians of the West Sea?

Is there something wrong with their brains?

The Central Plains People have delicate and handsome facial features and are blessed with natural beauty, while the barbarians from the West Sea all look as if they’ve been hacked and chiseled, with large pores and a strong musky odor all over. Yet, there are people who’d rather be like that?

If those barbarians had the chance to be reincarnated as Central Plains People, they’d probably get on their knees and lick the boots of the underworld officials!

"It seems..." Shen Qi suddenly understood, and said with amusement, "Even in Your Excellency’s homeland, there’s no escaping racial disputes."

"Hahaha..." Chen Qing laughed. "Something like that..."

Things are still manageable now, but when those ’Black Lives Are Precious’ folks come in, that’s when the real headache starts.

Although there are almost no black people in positions of power in the five major districts, they are not extinct.

On the contrary, it is said that they continued to reproduce excessively during the Digital Life Era, darkening half of the population in the four major districts.

It’s expected that after this place fully opens up, those folks will inevitably come here, and unlike these proud white folks willing to migrate to marginalized areas, these ’Black Lives Are Precious’. .. might not be so proud by then.

Chen Qing didn’t particularly care about skin color, but he was somewhat worried about some of the bad traits inherent in these people.

Of course, that was a matter for later. The key issue now was to see if his trip to the Federation would go smoothly.

Thinking of this, Chen Qing silently looked up at the sky, feeling a trace of anxiety.

There was anticipation about returning to a place that originally belonged to him, but there was also caution...

He knew very well that the Federation’s people would not so readily tolerate a person beyond their control, and by daring to let him go this time, they must have developed some special measures!

---

The next day...

In the Federation military district, all the major figures from Huazong District had arrived at the scene, with the whole initiation process still organized by Wu Xiaoli.

Standing beside a gigantic device, Wu Xiaoli looked down at the twenty-something people sitting silently below, her hands clasped behind her back trembling incessantly.

Not many people had come, but they were all representatives of the current top forces in Huazhong. Obviously, all the powers were taking the event of Chen Qing crossing over very seriously!

Sitting smack in the middle, Zhang Zhengyuan checked the time and looked up, "Let’s begin..."