Lin Qian's inquiry prompted a middle-aged female worker to step forward hastily, "Mr. Lu, Mr. Tang, and Mr. Zhuge are all busy in the back."
Upon hearing the report from this female worker, Lin Qian nodded, "Lead the way."
As Lin Qian's words fell, the female workers in front of him scattered, and the middle-aged woman curtsied, turning to lead the way deeper into the courtyard.
Following behind this female worker for only a short while, Lin Qian soon arrived in the rear courtyard of the residence.
In the large but sealed hall within the rear courtyard, three people quickly emerged, bowing in salute to Lin Qian.
"Zhuge Ming pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Among them was Zhuge Ming, the Prime Minister of the Huaxia Empire, who oversaw the Heavenly Art Department.
The other two were a man and a woman.
The man was dressed in a craftsman's special leather attire, which, judging by the leather, appeared more precious and had more tools on him.
He had a middle-aged appearance, with two small mustaches on his lips, and his expression revealed shrewdness.
Beside him, the woman wore a brocade floral dress, her demeanor dignified, as she bowed to Lin Qian, extended both her hands, her ten fingers slender and long.
"Mr. Lu pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Tang Zhi pays respects to Your Majesty."
Lin Qian gave a slight nod, gesturing for the three to stand.
Mr. Lu specialized in casting, leading the craftsmen in charge of casting, while Tang Zhi excelled in weaving, leading a group of female workers. The entire Fire Department was entirely under their leadership.
"I suppose Your Majesty has come to see how the preparations for the gift for the Empress are going?" After standing, Zhuge Ming approached Lin Qian with a smile.
Lin Qian nodded and headed straight into the hall, "How's the progress, not much time is left."
As he spoke, Lin Qian entered the hall, where it was pitch black, with only faint phosphorescence flickering in the center.
Following in, Mr. Lu quickly lit the lamps, and only then did Lin Qian see that the windows of the entire hall were nailed shut, covered by black curtains.
"Your Majesty, we were previously testing the effects, and since it's not yet fully completed, we could only use a small amount of soul power to activate it. The effect isn't obvious, so we had to block out the sunlight for observation," Tang Zhi explained meticulously as she came to Lin Qian's side.
Lin Qian looked at the gift in the center of the hall, nodding in satisfaction, "Very good, Xinxin will surely be delighted to receive this gift."
"To fulfill Your Majesty's command and make the Empress happy is what we ought to do," Mr. Lu replied with a bow.
"Tell me, what rewards do you desire?" Staring at the gift prepared for Ye Xin in the center of the hall, Lin Qian asked with a smile.
"Your Majesty, I have only contributed slightly in this matter. Mr. Lu and Tang Zhi deserve the greater reward. I humbly beg Your Majesty to bestow more upon them," Zhuge Ming quickly spoke as Lin Qian's words fell.
Lin Qian nodded silently, looking at Mr. Lu and Tang Zhi, "My beloved subjects, what rewards do you wish for, speak boldly."
Mr. Lu and Tang Zhi hurriedly saluted, only to modestly claim that their contribution was minor and dared not request any reward.
Upon hearing their words, Lin Qian simply shook his head with amusement, "How about this, giving rewards is too mundane; your positions aren't lacking funds. Instead, I grant you a seven-day holiday, during which you need do nothing but rest, along with the craftsmen and female workers under your command."
Mr. Lu and Tang Zhi were stunned at such a reward, then overflowed with joy, prostrating themselves on the ground, "We thank Your Majesty profoundly on behalf of everyone for such grace."
The Huaxia Empire, upon arriving in this world, integrated into it in many ways, such as generating soul power and forming Martial Souls.
Naturally, the equipment and armor previously used required modification. Furthermore, Lin Qian had sent many ancient texts recently, leading to breakthroughs in the Huaxia Empire's research, making it possible to commence work.
The enormous workload had the Fire Department toiling day and night, leaving them exhausted.
Without orders from Lin Qian, they dared not rest. Yet even without rest, they had no complaints.
However, such a reward from Lin Qian was an immense boon.
Zhuge Ming, standing nearby, could only laugh helplessly, thinking that his emperor was indeed indulgent.
"Anyway, I don't need such a large army now, and it's not wartime, so there's no need to work so hard." Lin Qian asked Zhuge Ming to step forward and spoke to him, "Balance work and rest, understand?"
"At Your Majesty's command!" Zhuge Ming approached, bowing in salute.
"Notify me when it's complete." Once finished, a flash of white light appeared on Lin Qian, and he vanished from the spot, leaving the Huaxia Empire.
After Lin Qian left, Zhuge Ming looked at Mr. Lu and Tang Zhi and said with a smile, "Originally, you didn't dare to ask, but the emperor himself brought it up, granting you seven days of rest, hahaha."
"The emperor's consideration is truly overwhelming," Mr. Lu remarked, his tone full of gratitude.
"Indeed, such good news should be quickly shared with those girls." Tang Zhi also smiled brightly and turned to leave.
Seeing this, Zhuge Ming chuckled and shook his head, "That Mr. Tang is indeed anxious, old Lu, wouldn't such a good event warrant inviting me for a drink?"
"Of course, of course, to my house," Mr. Lu grasped Zhuge Ming, and with a flash of white light, they left the spot.
When Lin Qian returned to his chamber, it was already night.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Lin Qian closed his eyes tightly, entering into a state of cultivation, operating the Emperor's Decision.
Within the dantian, the once vast soul power had dissipated, replaced by a mist-like soul power.
The previously dispersed points of soul power spun together, resembling a swirling nebula.
After breaking through to the Nirvana Realm, the concentration of soul power within had increased entirely by a level, causing the dantian soul power to swirl like fog.
Yet in this dense soul fog, there were two flashing rays of light, one a crimson-gold thunderbolt, the other a white-blue chill.
These were the Thunder Night Sword and the Cloud Sword.
After entering the cultivation state, Lin Qian's mind calmed, with only a single thought in his mind, to become stronger.
The next day, the competition grounds were bustling, gathering many Inner Sect Disciples.
These Inner Sect Disciples were all heading toward the ninth competition stage, and their purpose was evident, for the match between Lin Qian and Ding Zhirong.
"What do you think, in the match between Ding Zhirong and Lin Qian this time, who will win or lose?"
"Hard to say, Lin Qian is quite strange, but Ding Zhirong seems even stronger."
"What makes you say that?"
"Zhao Haiming has already claimed that he is not as good as Ding Zhirong."
"Impossible, Zhao Haiming is the top of the Inner Sect, how strong must Ding Zhirong be?"
"Ding Zhirong is here!"
After an exclamation from someone, a figure leapt from outside the wall of people surrounding the competition stage and landed steadily on the ninth competition stage.
The young man had hair just above his ears, sword-shaped eyebrows, and starry eyes, appearing somewhat handsome, yet a centipede-like scar on his face was somewhat terrifying.
This person was Ding Zhirong.
Ding Zhirong's expression was calm, dressed in a black, tight-fitting outfit. Upon arriving at the competition stage, he stood firmly, closing his eyes, waiting quietly.
"The Young Emperor, Lin Qian, is here!" Suddenly, within the Inner Sect Disciples, another protective shout arose, and the crowd parted.
Amid the parting crowd, Lin Qian walked at the forefront, with Lei Qian leading the Thunderbolt Department closely behind.
Lin Qian proceeded toward the competition stage, where Lei Qian and the Thunderbolt Department halted at the edge of the arena, watching the stage.
As Lin Qian stepped onto the competition stage, Ding Zhirong abruptly opened his eyes, staring intently at his opponent.
After a while, Ding Zhirong spoke, yet what he said shattered the silence like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone astonished.
"I'm not as good as you, the challenge is canceled."