A passing traveler through the heavens

Chapter 214 Time Passage Symbol

After the war for unification came to an end, Ji Lin launched a series of swift and decisive measures.

He immediately bestowed generous rewards and high titles upon his ministers who had made outstanding contributions in the war, in order to commend their achievements and loyalty.

Immediately afterwards, he led officials at all levels of the Dragon Kingdom to plan day and night and carefully formulate a far-reaching five-year development plan.

This plan meticulously covers multiple key areas, including healthcare, education, military, commerce, and agriculture.

The core objective of this five-year plan is to comprehensively improve people's sense of well-being and enhance their sense of identity and belonging to the Dragon Kingdom.

Moreover, Ji Lin made a significant decision—to appoint Fan Xian as the Crown Prince of the Dragon Kingdom and to grant Fan Xian full authority to oversee the country.

At this point, although Fan Xian had not officially been crowned emperor, he already held power almost equal to that of the emperor, and his position was of paramount importance. Ji Lin said that this move was intended to train Fan Xian's ability to govern the country.

Meanwhile, Ji Lin's life was leisurely and comfortable. He spent his days with Ye Qingmei, Xinghai, and others, traveling and enjoying the natural scenery, indulging in the pleasures of life.

Time flies, like a fleeting moment; five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

Now, Ji Lin sat solemnly in the imperial court, listening attentively to the detailed reports from officials of various departments on the implementation of the five-year plan.

Below the imperial court, the officials were filled with passion, eagerly reporting their brilliant achievements in their respective fields.

Looking around, the whole world presents a prosperous scene of peace and tranquility, with vitality and thriving atmosphere everywhere.

After listening to the court officials' report, Ji Lin smiled with satisfaction. He then took out the imperial edict that he had already written and gestured for the eunuch beside him to read it aloud.

The imperial edict stated that Ji Lin had decided to abdicate and pass the throne of the Dragon Kingdom to Fan Xian, thus beginning a new chapter for the Dragon Kingdom.

The eunuch unfurled the bright yellow imperial edict and read it aloud in a high-pitched and resonant voice, announcing that Ji Lin was abdicating and passing the throne to Fan Xian.

In an instant, the court fell silent. Everyone was stunned by the sudden decision and stood there dumbfounded. Then, a murmur of whispers rose up like a tide.

Ji Lin slowly rose from the dragon throne and walked down the steps with steady and powerful steps. He stopped the murmurs of the court officials and came to Fan Xian. He stretched out his hands and pulled Fan Xian to the front of the court officials.

Ji Lin's eyes were full of love and trust. He gently patted Fan Xian's shoulder and said earnestly, "My dear disciple, I have seen and remembered your diligence, wisdom and sense of responsibility over the years."

"I believe that under your rule, the Dragon Kingdom will surely achieve an even greater and more prosperous era, and create a more brilliant tomorrow."

At this moment, Zhuge Liang stepped forward, trembling. He held the tablet in both hands, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty is wise. His Highness the Crown Prince has devoted himself to the country all these years. His abilities and virtues are evident to all. It is a great fortune for the country that His Highness the Crown Prince will inherit the throne. We will do our best to assist him."

Seeing this, the other ministers also came to their senses, and in an instant, the court was filled with kneeling officials, who shouted in unison, "Your Majesty is wise! We are willing to serve His Highness the Crown Prince to the death!"

The shouts were deafening, echoing for a long time in the empty court hall, creating a magnificent atmosphere.

The abdication ceremony was held in a grand manner in the Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Imperial Palace. The entire palace was decorated in a magnificent style, and a red carpet was laid from the palace gate all the way to the dragon throne.

Dressed in a magnificent dragon robe and wearing a crown, Ji Lin solemnly handed the jade seal, a symbol of imperial power, to Fan Xian.

Wearing a brand-new dragon robe, Fan Xian knelt on one knee, accepted the imperial seal with both hands, his eyes filled with determination and resolve.

After the ceremony, Ji Lin, along with Ye Qingmei and Xinghai, quietly left the capital and headed south to a picturesque town in Jiangnan.

Surrounded by green mountains and flowing streams, the houses with white walls and black tiles are scattered along the riverbank. Ji Lin bought a quiet courtyard in the town, which is filled with flowers in all four seasons, and the fragrance fills the air when the flowers bloom.

After ascending the throne, Fan Xian was well aware of the heavy responsibilities on his shoulders. He worked day and night, devoting himself to the governance of the Dragon Kingdom.

He upheld the governing principles left by Ji Lin and continued to deepen reforms with sweeping reforms.

In the commercial sphere, he dispatched envoys to the distant Western Regions and Southeast Asia, opening up many new trade routes. The exquisite specialties of the Dragon Kingdom, such as silk, tea, and porcelain, were exported overseas along these trade routes, bringing back countless rare treasures and enormous wealth, and the national treasury became increasingly full.

He also established several commercial markets throughout the country, encouraging people to engage in trade. The markets were bustling with activity, filled with shouts and the sounds of bargaining.

In education, Fan Xian ordered the establishment of many more government-run academies, recruiting learned scholars from all over the country to teach. He also personally formulated the teaching syllabus for the academies, emphasizing not only the transmission of Confucian classics but also adding practical subjects such as mathematics, astronomy, and geography.

To give more students from impoverished backgrounds the opportunity to study, Fan Xian established a special scholarship. As long as students are diligent, studious, and achieve excellent results, they can receive generous financial aid.

For a time, a wave of enthusiasm for learning swept across the country. Students, full of dreams, studied diligently, hoping to one day contribute their strength to the development of the Dragon Kingdom.

Time flows by, and several more years have passed.

Fan Xian governed the Dragon Kingdom with great efficiency, and the country became increasingly prosperous, with its people living in peace and contentment.

That year, Fan Xian, accompanied by the Empress and several young princes, traveled incognito to the town where Ji Lin lived.

When he stepped into that familiar courtyard, he saw Ji Lin sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, leisurely enjoying tea, Ye Qingmei tending to the flowers and plants, and Xinghai eating snacks and drinking cola under a tree.

Hearing footsteps, Ji Lin looked up and saw Fan Xian. A kind smile appeared on his face. He stood up to greet him, saying, "Isn't this my good disciple? It's been a long time. You've become more and more like a king."

Fan Xian strode forward, knelt down on both knees, and performed a deep bow: "Without Master's cultivation and trust back then, there would be no Fan Xian today, nor the prosperous Dragon Kingdom of today."

Looking at Fan Xian's current appearance, Ji Lin seemed to see a scene of peace and prosperity unfolding before his eyes.

The group sat together, reminiscing about the past, filled with emotion. Ji Lin listened to Fan Xian recount the development and changes of the Dragon Kingdom over the years, nodding in praise from time to time, his eyes full of satisfaction.

Ye Qingmei held the Empress's hand, showing concern and care.

Children played and laughed in the courtyard, adding life and energy to the quiet little courtyard, with bursts of laughter echoing from time to time.

As night deepened and Fan Xian and the others left, the whole world seemed to quiet down.

Ji Lin came to the center of the courtyard alone. He sat down gently on the old but comfortable recliner and then skillfully took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.

With a crisp "crack," the flame leaped up, illuminating his slightly tired face.

Ji Lin brought the cigarette close to the flame, took a deep drag, and the cigarette butt instantly lit up with a red glow.

Then, he exhaled a cloud of white smoke, which appeared particularly hazy under the cold moonlight. He continued to smoke, one puff after another, his thoughts seemingly drifting away with the smoke.

Just then, a soft footstep broke the silence of the night.

Ji Lin knew who it was without turning around. Ye Qingmei quietly walked behind Ji Lin and asked softly, "Are you leaving?"

Ji Lin remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly in agreement.

Then, Ji Lin reached into his robes and took out an exquisite storage ring.

One of the most important reasons why he has never left the world of Joy of Life over the years is the system's lottery system.

Through continuous lottery draws, Ji Lin obtained many precious treasures through the system.

However, as time has passed, his strength has increased by leaps and bounds, and most of the items that he once treasured can no longer meet his needs.

After careful selection, Ji Lin kept only a few items that were beneficial to his cultivation, and put the rest of the items that were no longer suitable for his current strength into this storage ring, intending to give them to Ye Qingmei.

Ji Lin silently handed the storage ring to Ye Qingmei, who was slightly taken aback, but quickly reached out and took it.

Just as an indescribable atmosphere filled the space between the two, Ji Lin suddenly pulled out a yellowed talisman from his pocket.

This talisman looks mysterious and unpredictable, faintly emitting a fluctuation of time energy.

Ji Lin stared at the talisman, and in an instant, it seemed as if an invisible force was pulling the talisman, causing it to spontaneously combust without any wind.

The blazing firelight illuminated their faces, making everything around them seem like a dream.

At the same time, Ji Lin's figure gradually became blurred and eventually disappeared completely in the blink of an eye, as if he had never existed.

However, even though Ji Lin has left, time in Joy of Life has not stopped.

The talisman that Ji Lin just took out is called the Time Flow Talisman. It was obtained through a lottery. Its specific function is to prevent the world of the current dimension from stagnating due to Ji Lin's departure.

Ye Qingmei stared at the empty courtyard before her, her mind a jumble of thoughts, unable to come to her senses for a long time…