Next Day,
After the Brief Talk with Void Storm Spirit,
The morning sun of Kun Island filtered through the canopy of thunderclouds that ever hovered around the Stormspire's peak, casting radiant streaks of gold and violet across the valley. Su Mengtian stood tall at the gate of the Sanctuary of Beasts, clad in the regal black-and-gold cloak that signified his status as Sovereign of the Heavenly Spear Alliance.
Beside him was the serene and composed Yune Yashara, the Department Head of the Sanctuary of Beasts. A woman with deep amber eyes and silver braids cascading past her waist, she moved with the quiet grace of one raised among sacred beasts. Her attire was embroidered with motifs of phoenixes and wyrms, her aura calm yet brimming with unspoken command.
"Lord Mengtian," she said, bowing respectfully, "the Sanctuary is functioning at 67% of full capacity. We have over 2,000 contracted spirit beasts in various levels of training, including three newly awakened Mystic-tier aerial wyverns."
Su Mengtian nodded, observing the sprawling compound before him—massive open courtyards, celestial beast paddocks, specialized dens for elemental beasts, and towering perches for flight training. In the distance, roars and chirps filled the air as tamer apprentices guided their bonded companions through synchronized routines.
"And the Celestial Bond Program we discussed last month? Has the integration begun?" he asked.
"Yes, Sovereign. We have initiated Phase One with the Hall of Wyrmcallers. They're cultivating bonds between elite disciples and Sky Serpents, with the goal of increasing mounted air units before the next continental assembly."
Before Mengtian could reply, a sudden pressure rolled across the sky.
Booming echoes reverberated across Kun Island as the skies above parted. From the horizon, several Merchant Class Support Cruisers descended like slow-moving celestial whales, each one adorned with the sigil of the Crimson Sky Empire—a crimson dragon coiling around a golden imperial sun.
Escorting them were at least eight Phalanx Class Stealth Ships, their obsidian exteriors rippling with invisibility cloaks that shimmered only when they dropped their cloaking field.
Alarms didn't sound. They weren't intruders—they bore the diplomatic banners of the Empire.
All ten Hallmasters arrived swiftly, their presence flaring like a storm of divine wills. Ji Yeyan of the Hall of Shadows stood tall, eyes narrowed. Rao Lin of Valor cracked his knuckles. Yue Mei, Inara, Baojin, Kai Chan, Xiaoyun, Lan Qiu, Xuan Le, and even the dignified Long Xuemei and Su Leilong took their place near the ceremonial greeting grounds.
Elders from the Halls and the Departments followed, and the scene gathered a quiet yet dense gravitas.
From the lead cruiser, a long, elegant ramp extended, and out walked a singular figure—robed in silver-gray silk, his face wizened yet radiating authority. Eunuch Shen Guancheng.
Su Mengtian stepped forward with a respectful smile. "Eunuch Shen. It's rare for the sun to shine this brightly—your presence must be the reason."
The elderly eunuch gave a half-bow, hands clasped. "Lord Su, you honor me. But alas, I cannot stay for tea today. His Majesty the Emperor has entrusted me with an official task—one I must discharge before the sun sets."
He gestured behind him. With practiced motion, the workers from the Merchant Class ships began unloading sealed vaults, divine crates, and enchanted containers. They bore clan seals—Feng, Tang, Shi, Peng, Long, Jin—and the imperial insignia itself.
"As promised," Shen Guancheng said, his voice resounding through the air, "These are the reparations, resources, and compensations His Majesty pledged to the Heavenly Spear Alliance. They include tributes from the major clans—resources surrendered from the Compact War, and spiritual materials as recognition for the blood shed."
Su Leilong's eyes glinted with hidden emotion, but he remained silent. Behind him, Rao Lin muttered quietly to Baojin, "Wouldn't it be something if we had ships like those?"
Baojin smirked, "Even one Dominion-class would change a war."
Kai Chan added, "We build hearts, not hulls. But yes... perhaps it's time to reconsider."
As the last container was unloaded, Shen Guancheng approached Su Leilong and bowed deeply.
"General Su," he said respectfully, "May your halberd remain as sharp as it once was when it led armies across the fallen lands."
Su Leilong smiled faintly. "And may your duties remain light, Head Eunuch."
With that, Shen Guancheng returned to his ship. The imperial fleet departed without ceremony—efficient, as always.
At Council Hall of the State of Records,
The great Council Hall of the State of Records buzzed with voices and divine energy as all ten Hallmasters and eight Department Heads assembled. Elders flanked the chamber, their auras restrained but ever-present.
Su Mengtian stood at the apex of the dais, the banners of the Alliance fluttering behind him.
"We have grown too fast—not just in strength, but in responsibility. During the Compact War, we bled because we lacked structure. We survived because of unity. Today, we build not just for survival—but for permanence."
He gestured toward the artifact screen. Sorin Ma, Director of the Truehold Financial Bastion, and Bael Trim, Head of the Library of Treasures, stepped forward.
Sorin Ma, robed in golden robes of financial arrays, began, "The delivered supplies include 400 vaults of refined spiritual ore, 1200 scrolls of ancient knowledge, 20000 spirit cores, divine-grade artifacts, medicinal herbs up to Saint Grade, 50 million worth of celestial coins, and blueprints for Imperial tier airships."
Bael Trim, an old man with a mind like a grand archive, followed, "In accordance with our newly devised systems, we propose three reforms. One for our military. One for our departments. And one for the categorization of treasures, beasts, and spiritual tools."
Su Mengtian nodded. "Then let us declare this day—the Day of Reformation."
Ji Yeyan displayed the projection and said "Let's get started."
First,
Spiritual Military Hierarchy System---
At the top is Supreme Command (Strategic Leadership), which includes.
-Hallmasters – Leaders of their respective Halls, responsible for top-level decisions, long-term strategy, and overall discipline.
-Hall Elders – Second to the Hallmasters, they serve as guardians, advisors, and overseers. Chosen for wisdom, strength, and virtue.
-High Marshal – The top military commander under the Hallmasters, overseeing all martial deployments and front-line operations across regions.
Next is the Core Command (Army-Level Command), which includes the,
-Marshal – Leads entire war fronts; commands over 100,000 troops. Sets strategies for major campaigns.
-Heaven-ranked General – Oversees a full army of 50,000. Renowned cultivators with formidable battle records.
-Division General – Heads a 10,000-strong division. Known for tactical brilliance and combat leadership.
Then come the Field Command (Tactical Leadership), which includes the,
-Banner Commander – Commands 3,000–5,000 troops. Often battlefield veterans with personal charisma and unique techniques.
-Gold-ranked Commander – In charge of elite battalions (up to 1,000 soldiers). Known to wield legendary weapons or guardian beasts.
-Spiritblade Captain – Leads 100–300 elite warriors. Typically has extensive field experience.
After that is the Unit Leadership (Squad-Level), which will include all the,
-Squad Leader– Heads 10–30 soldiers. Key role in maintaining formation tactics.
-Warrant Adept– Junior officer level. They undergo field tests and leadership training.
And finally is the Enlisted Ranks (Regular Troops), which includes all the
-Veteran Knights – Experienced fighters; often assigned training roles or elite missions.
-Soldiers– Backbone of the military. Trained in both weapons and spiritual formations.
-Recruits– Freshly recruited. Undergo training, trials, and spiritual awakening protocols.
Xuan Le added, "These ranks also apply to special units like Heavenrends Regiment of Tianzhen City and the SkyRangers Battalion."
Su Mengtian concluded, "The other Halls may use rank equivalents but will not lead troops—this is to preserve operational clarity."
Following the Spiritual Military Hierarchy System, Bael Trim introduced the 7-Stage Departmental Hierarchy System, specially developed for the eight departments.
At top are the Department Directors or Overseers – Absolute authority and final decision-makers on the departments. They are responsible for setting visions, approving strategies, overseeing inter-departmental coordinations. They had to report to the State of Record's Council, the Founders or directly to Sovereign Su Mengtian.
Under Department Directors are High Commandants and Division Chiefs – Heads of their respective major divisions within the department. They are responsible for executing the grand visions, manage lower tiers and allocate large-scale resources. They had to report directly to their Department Director.
Under High Commandants and Division Chiefs are the Senior Executors and Prime Coordinators – Oversees several operational branches or units. They are responsible for strategic planning, performance review, advanced conflict resolution. They had to reports to their respective High Commandants.
Under Senior Executors and Prime Coordinators are the Section Commanders and Lead Supervisors – They are the Head of their specific sections or specialized units. They are responsible for team leadership, training and project delivery. They had to reports to their respective Senior Executors.
Under Section Commanders and Lead Supervisors are the Unit Officer and Senior Specialists – They are experienced frontline leaders or high-skill contributors, responsible for task delegations, mentoring and reporting. They had to reports to their respective Section Commanders.
Under Unit Officer and Senior Specialists are the Operatives, Analysts and Technicians– They are the Core departmental workforce, responsible for day-to-day operations, analysis, maintenance, fieldwork etc. They had to report to their respective Unit Officers.
Finally under Operatives, Analysts and Technicians are the Initiates, Cadets or Apprentices – Entry-level personnel or trainees. They were responsible for learning, assisting and basic tasks. They had to report to their direct Operatives or Unit Officers (for mentoring).
Next, Bael Trim continued with the 5-stage hierarchy system designed for State of Records structure. This system is clean, scalable, and suitable for a Realm Overseer and military command centers.
At the top is Sovereign, Su Mengtian– Leader of Heavenly Spear Alliance and State of Record's Head. The ultimate authority of the Heavenly Spear Alliance and State of Records. Responsible for overseeing the whole Heavenly Spear Alliance through the State of Records.
Under Sovereign are High Strategists, Executive Marshals and Operations Directors – They are second-in-command in State of Records and masters of internal command flow. They are responsible for executing the Sovereign's vision and overseeing all divisions. They are like the hands of the State of Records.
Under High Strategists, Executive Marshals and Operations Directors are the Division Heads, Command Officers and Sector Chiefs– Their role is to oversee a specific operational department and Hall without interfering in them (mainly responsible for Logistics and R&D matters). They are responsible for resource management, policy enforcement. They are the spine of the State of Records.
Under Division Heads, Command Officers and Sector Chiefs are the Field Captains, Senior Coordinators and Unit Chiefs– They work as the direct supervisors for teams or squads. They are responsible for task assignments, reporting, discipline, and tactical executions. They work as the limbs of the State of Records.
Finally under Field Captains, Senior Coordinators and Unit Chiefs are Agents, Operators, Technicians and Cadets – They work as ground-level personnels i.e the backbone of daily operations. They are responsible for executing tasks, support missions and maintain systems. They are all loyal, disciplined, action-oriented. They work as the blood of the State of Records.
Department of Library of Treasures head, Bael Trim says, "I and the members of Department of Library of Treasures would like to propose some new systems developed after researching from a lot of documents related to different kingdoms, Empires, continent and even ancient texts for categorising items, relics, herbs, spiritual and demonic beasts as well as battleships."
Bael Trim first presented the Herb categorization system. Each herb is categorized by both Grade (quality/potency) and Tier (rarity/spiritual maturity). This system would allow for herbal evolution, and tiered cultivations in the future.
Main Grade Categories of herbs (from lowest to highest):
-First, Mortal Grade – Common herbs with minor medicinal or supportive effects. Found everywhere. Wound-soothing grass and Cleansing mint are some examples.
-Second, Spirit Grade – Herbs that aid basic cultivation, healing, or body strengthening.
-Third, Earth grade – Herbs that greatly aid cultivation, healing, body strengthening or pill refinements.
-Forth, Profound Grade – Herbs infused with spiritual energy, used for breakthrough pills, Qi refinement.
-Fifth, Heaven Grade – Extremely potent herbs capable of altering lifeforce, soul essence, or elemental affinity.
-Sixth, Saint Grade – Sacred herbs said to be born of divine lands, growing in domains touched by celestial laws.
-Seventh, Immortal Grade– Near-mythical herbs that can extend life, resurrect, or grant immortality. Their aura warps time and space.
-Eighth, Mythic or Origin Grade – Said to be born at the dawn of creation. One leaf could evolve bloodlines or create realms.
Each Grade is further divided into four Tiers:Lesser, Middle, Greater and Peak for herbs that are on the verge of evolving to the next Grade.
Bael Trim explained that to make herbs more unique, you can add attributes or suffixes. Such as Fire, Ice, Lightning, Wood, Void, etc. For example a Void Heaven Lotus (Heaven Grade – Peak Tier), it would require a 1000 years to mature and blooms only under Blood Moon etc. Next a Thousand-Year Frostleaf (Profound Grade – Greater Tier), It only grows on Dragon Bones, or in Celestial Pools of the Celestial Root from Mount Kunlun.
Department head, Bael Trim showed sample ranked herb entries like,
-Wound-Soothing Grass - Mortal Grade – Lesser Tier, Common healing herb used in basic salves.
-Flameleaf Lotus - Earth Grade – Middle Tier [Fire Attribute], Boosts body heat and blood circulation for fire-type cultivators.
Hall of Luminousveil's Hallmaster Yue Mei and the elders of Hall of Luminousveil were listening this with great interest and very carefully. It was like they were comprehending the knowledge shown by Director Bael Trim.
Bael Trim next presented the Weapon & Relic Grade Ranking System:
-At First and lowest is Mortal Grade – Basic tools forged by non-cultivators. Common among soldiers and civilians. The amount of aura it exhibits is close to none. Everyday use or entry-level cultivators. Examples: Iron sword, wood talisman, steel staff.
-At second is Spirit Grade – Forged with spiritual ores or materials. Begins to respond to the wielder's Qi. The amount of aura it exhibits is Faint glow with low spiritual resonance. Examples: Spirit-infused saber, jade charm with minor protective runes.
-At third is Profound Grade– Artifacts that possess rudimentary intelligence and self-repair. Can store basic techniques. The amount of aura it exhibits is unique elemental energy, which Emits pressure. Examples: Flame-touched bow, water-breathing fan, thunder-forged bracelets.
-At Forth is Earth Grade– it Can bond with the user's spirit. Holds passive or active abilities. Often crafted by sect blacksmiths or discovered in ancient ruins. The aura it exhibits has dense Qi signature and can generate heavy pressure. Examples: Blade that sings in battle, relic that creates defensive fields.
-At fifth is Heaven Grade – Relics imbued with laws of nature or fragments of Dao. Rare and highly sought. The aura it exhibits radiates elemental will; may resist unworthy wielders. Examples: Lightning-etched spear, divine bell that stills time briefly.
-At sixth is Sacred Grade – Passed down in great sects or royal families. Wielded by Saints or powerful cultivators. The aura it exhibits forms halos, illusions, or projects its own domain. Examples: Scroll that records fate, sword forged from heavenly meteor.
-At seventh is Divine Grade – Crafted by celestial beings or born during major cosmic events. Can change destiny. The aura it exhibits affects the world—weather, space, and laws bend near it. Examples: Divine cauldron, fan that calms storms, mask that seals souls.
-At eighth is Primordial Grade – Originated from the beginning of existence. Rumored to be forged from fragments of the Primal Chaos. The aura it exhibits warps space and time. Requires strong will and destiny to wield. Examples: Sword that slays karma, relic that reverses death.
-At ninth is Eternal Grade– Exists beyond cycles of rebirth. Cannot be destroyed by mortal means. Their existence anchors realms. The aura it exhibits is Timeless; causes all lower beings to bow instinctively. Examples: Mirror that reflects all truths, staff that judges gods.
-And finally at tenth and highest is Transcendent Grade – beyond comprehension. Thought to be the will of the Dao itself manifest. Cannot be owned, only borrowed by fate. The aura it exhibits is unknown and unknowable. Its presence alone creates miracles or catastrophes. Examples: Ancient Bloodline Cauldron (Only mythically recorded. Appears during world-ending calamities or rebirth.)
Items has sub-ranks (For Each Tier Above Mortal Grade from lower to peak). It starts from Lesser or Lower > Middle > Greater or Upper > Peak (极品 / Jipin)
Example: A "Heaven Grade – Upper" sword is vastly stronger than a "Heaven Grade – Lower" talisman.
Bael Trim next presented the Grade Ranking System for Spiritual & Demon Beasts, which goes from lowest to highest. Each rank is divided into Tiers (Low / Mid / High / Peak) to allow for more progression and classification.
-At the lowest are "Mortal Tier" beasts– "Born of Earth, Bound by Flesh". These beasts possess no spiritual awareness or are newly awakened. Thy can compared to wild animals with minor spiritual energy. They are found in forests, mountains, and outer realm zones. Examples: Horned boars, Firefang wolves, Lesser shadow cats.
-At second are the "Spirit Tier" beasts – It's a state "Where Qi First Touches Blood". Beasts gain rudimentary intelligence and begin cultivating. They can learn simple spiritual arts or techniques. They often serve as mounts or familiars for low-tier cultivators. Examples: Flame-backed tiger, Verdant fox, Wind antelope.
- At third are the "Mystic Tier" beasts – It's a state where "The Opening of the Inner Sea" takes place. They gain full sentience and can speak or form soul contracts. They are capable of manipulating elements or mystic arts and often protect sacred grounds or sect relics. Examples: Thunder Roc, Mystic Jade Python, Icefang Lynx.
- At Forth are the "Earthly Sovereign Tier" beasts – They are "Rulers of Territories, Lords of Lands". Extremely powerful and can form beast clans. Some can even take humanoid forms temporarily. They possess spiritual domains and unique bloodline abilities. Examples: Ironhide Mammoth King, Blazing Lizard Sovereign.
-At fifth are the "Celestial Beast Tier" – They are "born under stars, and feared by kings". They are rarely seen in the lower realms. Carry innate laws of nature and are often linked to celestial phenomena (eclipses, starfalls). They are capable of defeating entire armies. Examples: Moonshadow Kirin, Starfire Nine-tailed Fox, Azure Sky Roc.
-At sixth are the "Divine Beast Tier" beasts. They are the "Embodiments of Divine Will" itself. They have appeared in ancient myths throughout human history and are born with sacred destinies. They can control elemental law manifestations or divine bloodlines. They only appear during realm-altering events. Examples: White Flame Vermillion Bird, Void-Treading Dragon, Sacred Qilin.
-At seventh are the "Primordial Beast Tier" beasts. They are also referred to as "Before Heaven, They Roamed". Ancient beasts that predate civilization and cultivation. They can rival divine beings or immortals and are often sealed or hidden due to the chaos they bring. Examples: Chaos Devouring Serpent, Eternal Eclipse Lion, Origin Hydra.
-At the highest and eighth are the "Abyssal Calamity Tier" (Usually for Demon Beasts). Humans have never seen them through their eyes, we only know about them through the ancient texts leaved to us by our predecessors. They are also known in ancient texts as "Those That Devour Worlds". Blights upon creation. Demon beasts of this grade are cataclysmic. They are capable of corrupting entire realms or devouring Dao itself and often sealed in void prisons, only mentioned in forbidden texts. Examples: Black Lotus Demon Whale, Abyss-Eyed Wyrm, Thousand-Tongued Leviathan from ancient texts.
Spiritual vs Demon Beast can be distinct through Type and Traits:
--Spiritual Beasts: Noble, often formed from natural or celestial Qi. Seek harmony or protect sacred lands.
--Demon Beasts: Formed from chaos, resentment, demonic Qi. Often more aggressive, corruptive, and sinister.
Director Bael Trim includes that Beast Cores or Soul Beads as loot or cultivation resources from beasts. Higher-tier beasts drop Law Crystals, Bloodline Sigils, or Dao Remnants.
Bael Trim finally presented the "Global Battleship Class Ranking System". Classes are divided into Civilian and Military, each with 6 Tiers (I–VI), where Tier I is the most basic and Tier VI is the most powerful or prestigious. Each ship also has a Class Type, denoting its function.
First are the "CIVILIAN CLASSES":
At Tier-I is Drifter Class, Small transport or mobile home ship. Personal or family vessel.
At Tier-II is Courier Class, Fast delivery or messenger ships. Minor shielding, light cargo.
At Tier-III is Merchant Class, Trade ships, moderate cargo capacity, basic defense systems.
At Tier-IV is Haven Class, Civilian rescue, hospital, or sanctuary ships. Equipped with life-support.
At Tier-V is Beacon Class, Large pilgrimage ships, spiritual temples, or mobile academies.
At Tier-VI is Sanctum-Class Ark, Massive ark-like vessels for relocation, cultural preservation, or exodus.
Next are the "MILITARY CLASSES":
At Tier-I is Warden Class, Patrol or guard ships. Short-range, light arms.
At Tier-II is Phalanx Class, Escort corvettes or defensive frigates. Moderate shielding and firepower.
At Tier-III is Crusader Class, Medium assault ships or rapid-response carriers. Agile, fast deployment.
At Tier-IV is Juggernaut Class, Heavy cruisers or fortress ships. Reinforced hulls, siege-grade weapons.
At Tier-V is Dominion Class, Battleships or battlecarriers. Field command units, capable of launching fighters or spiritual units.
And finally at Tier-VI is the Sovereign-Class Dreadnought, Apex warships. Can serve as command flagships or celestial-tier battleships. Armed with spiritual artifacts or mass-destruction weapons.
Bael Trim added, "We also created Codes for each classes. These can be attached to any class to denote function easily:
Such as "AC" for Aircraft Carrier, they launch drones, spirits, or fighter units. "CV" for Command Vessel, works as flagship or command-control units. "SC" for Support Cruiser, used for providing healing, buffs, or logistic support. "SS" for Stealth Ship, Cloaked operations, recon, espionage. "AR" for Arkship, Civilian or religious mobile sanctuaries or colonies. "SR" for Spiritual Relay, Amplifies spiritual or psychic energy. Acts as a mobile temple. "GA" for Guardian Armor Ship, that fuses with a war deity, golem, or divine armor mode.
Examples: Dominion-Class Carrier – "Halo of Wrath" (Dominion-AC), A Tier V military ship that launches divine warrior units through flying platforms. And Sanctum-Class Ark – "Lotus Sanctuary" (Sanctum-AR), A Tier VI civilian vessel that transports entire sects or populations across galaxies."
Bael Trim concluded, "These standards will allow precise classification, cultivation alignment, and inter-realm benchmarking."
Su Mengtian rose again, his voice calm yet powerful:
"This... is our foundation. A system not just for today—but for generations. Thank you, Director Bael Trim. Your service honors this Alliance."
He looked at everyone gathered.
"Let's take a break for lunch. We reconvene in one hour to assign allocations. We build not with stone—but with wisdom, spirit, and resolve."
Inara says to Rao Lin taking a deep breath, "Shy, finally a lunch break".
Rao Lin replies, "Ugh, my back's gone stiff!".
The chamber slowly emptied, whispers of excitement, awe, and renewed purpose trailing behind each figure.