Chapter 1: Her Name Is Chi Mo, Guan Yizhou's Girlfriend
Blue Star.
A rented room.
Lin Fan was editing a video.
Suddenly, he heard a mechanical voice.
[All Heavens Network activated. Host binding successful.]
[You may broadcast pan-historical videos to every dynasty throughout history.]
[Popularity and influence points can be exchanged for any real-world reward.]
Lin Fan froze.
He almost thought he was hearing things.
"What the hell is all that gibberish?"
[The All Heavens Creation Platform has been generated on your computer.]
[Host, please upload your work as soon as possible.]
Lin Fan looked at his computer. Sure enough, an All Heavens creation software had popped up out of thin air.
"Holy shit, System Daddy? A cheat? A virus? Is this for real?"
"Whatever, let's try it first!"
Surprised and hyped, Lin Fan didn't overthink it. Without hesitation, he clicked upload on the flop video he'd spent three days editing.
After graduating, Lin Fan had posted quite a few history videos.
His highest view count was barely three thousand.
If not now, then when?
[Video uploaded successfully.]
[Current broadcast worlds: Qin, Han, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, Qing, Republic...]
Seeing the glowing screen floating before his eyes, Lin Fan was thrilled and full of anticipation.
"It really is System Daddy. I'm gonna get rich this time."
"Broadcasting to so many timelines... I wonder what kind of rewards I'll get?"
At the same time.
The skies of every era.
Churned simultaneously.
A magnificent Celestial Screen.
Slowly unfurled.
Great Qin.
Xianyang Palace.
Ying Zheng was reviewing memorials.
Cries of alarm suddenly came from outside the hall.
He frowned, grabbed his sword, and walked out the doors.
He looked up.
Above the firmament, a massive light screen stretched from east to west.
Text flowed across the screen. It was bizarre, yet anyone could understand it perfectly.
[Ranking the True Worth of Founding Eras in Chinese History.]
Ying Zheng gripped the Tai'e Sword, his eyes burning.
"Ranking the foundings?"
"Zhen would like to see how people of later eras judge my Great Qin's eternal foundation."
He raised his head to the sky, radiating dominance.
"Great Qin unified the six directions. We shall undoubtedly stand first."
Great Han.
Weiyang Palace.
Liu Bang was drinking with Fan Kuai.
A clamor rose outside the hall.
Xiao He hurried in.
"Your Majesty, something strange has appeared in the sky."
Liu Bang carried his wine cup and walked outside.
Seeing the Celestial Screen, he paused.
Then he chuckled.
"Oh ho, folks from later eras are ranking us."
"What's so strange about it? Isn't this just good, lively fun?"
Fan Kuai's voice boomed.
"Your Majesty, why even rank it?"
"Our Great Han overthrew the tyrannical Qin. We're definitely first."
Liu Bang shook his head.
"Our Great Han is strong, but claiming first place is a bit much."
Even so, he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"Let's secure second and fight for first."
Great Ming, Jinling.
Zhu Yuanzhang stood before the Fengtian Hall, his gaze sharp as a blade.
The Celestial Screen hung high, illuminating the entire imperial city.
"Speaking of origins, which emperor in history was ever a beggar?"
"Speaking of skill, our Great Ming drove out the barbarians and restored China."
"This first place belongs to no one but me."
Great Tang, Taiji Palace.
Li Shimin stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky with a solemn expression.
"What is this thing? Divine punishment? An auspicious omen?"
Zhangsun Wuji bowed.
"Your Majesty, this object is abnormal. It might affect public sentiment. Should we control the people's discussions?"
Li Shimin shook his head.
"Who can silence the masses?"
"Besides, if the Celestial Screen shows the judgments of later eras, I might learn my successes and failures early."
In Chang'an City.
The commoners chattered away.
"The screen says it's ranking the foundings."
"Wonder where our Great Tang will place."
"Who cares about the rank? As long as we eat our fill, that's first place."
"Right, right."
Great Song, Kaifeng.
Zhao Kuangyin looked up at the sky, his wine cup still in hand.
Zhao Guangyi stood behind him, his eyes flickering.
"Imperial Brother, this Celestial Screen came out of nowhere."
Zhao Kuangyin nodded.
"Indeed, it did."
"But people of later eras judging the foundings."
"That isn't necessarily a bad thing."
"We shall simply wait and see."
"Yes, Imperial Brother."
Zhao Guangyi lowered his head.
His eyelids drooped.
Dark tides surged beneath them.
If later eras didn't rate his brother's founding highly.
Then he should help the Great Song walk a better path.
Great Qing, Forbidden City.
Kangxi stood before the Hall of Supreme Harmony, his dragon robes fluttering.
He stared at the Celestial Screen, displeased.
"I captured Oboi, pacified the Three Feudatories, took Taiwan Island, and resisted Tsarist Russia."
"My territory far exceeds that of Han and Tang."
"These later generations are too ignorant. They only rank the foundings, not the sage emperors?"
A minister nearby quickly spoke up.
"Your Majesty, among the founders, the Great Qing must surely be first."
"After the foundings, they will inevitably rank the sage rulers, and Your Majesty will top that list!"
Only then did Kangxi nod in satisfaction.
"Not bad."
"That makes sense."
"Also, go check who in the civilian world is using this Celestial Screen to spread rumors."
"Grab a few examples."
"Execute the chicken to scare the monkeys."
The minister immediately knelt.
"Zhe!"
Sui Dynasty.
Inside Jiangdu Palace.
Yang Guang lounged against the dragon couch.
He glanced at the Celestial Screen and sneered.
"Foundings?"
"Just another game of winners and losers."
"I built the Grand Canal, established the imperial examinations, and campaigned against Goguryeo. Which of these isn't a feat for the ages?"
"They only rank the foundings, but ignore my grand achievements?"
The concubines beside him chimed in agreement.
"Your Majesty is wise."
"The Celestial Screen should set up a separate list just for Your Majesty."
Yang Guang drank freely and laughed loudly.
"My beauties speak well!"
"Let's see how later eras praise me."
Qin Dynasty.
Inside Shaqiu Palace.
Hu Hai shrank his neck.
"Minister Zhao, you say this Celestial Screen is strange. Could it expose what we've done?"
Zhao Gao narrowed his eyes.
"Rest assured, Your Majesty."
"These are merely things meant to bewitch the people."
"Besides, no matter how high the Celestial Screen hangs, it cannot rise above the human heart."
"Once Your Majesty ascends the throne, you will be the highest person in this world. Whatever you say goes."
"Even if the Celestial Screen exposes us, so what? The First Emperor cannot come back from the dead."
Light sparked in Hu Hai's eyes, and he grew excited.
"Right, right!"
"Father, don't blame me for this."
"I wanted to be emperor too much. I wanted it so badly!"
Zhao Gao watched Hu Hai's fanaticism without another word. He just wore a cold smirk, then melted into the shadows.
Modern Era Plane.
Jinling.
Baldy stood on the balcony of his official residence, Madam Song by his side.
He looked at the Celestial Screen, smug as hell.
"Madam, look. The Celestial Screen is ranking the foundings, and it specifically includes the modern era."
"What does this mean? It means I am the legitimate ruler! The Party-State is about to achieve true victory!"
"Exactly. Those Jap bandits and Red bandits are just temporary nuisances."
"Only my Party-State is the greatest legitimate heir of China in thousands of years."
Madam Song smiled proudly as well.
"We are definitely the biggest winners."
"Those mud-legged peasants think they can shine alongside us? What a joke."
"However, the Red bandits have been very active lately. With their schemes, they'll definitely use this Celestial Screen to stir up trouble."
"Why don't we increase the budget and step up the arrests?"
Baldy frowned.
"The Party-State doesn't have much funding right now."
Madam Song laughed.
"That's simple."
"Our Party-State is the legitimate heir of China, recognized by the Celestial Screen."
"Is it really excessive to collect a few more donations from the commoners?"
Baldy nodded repeatedly.
"Right, that makes perfect sense."
"You handle it. Just make sure you don't show your face personally."
Madam Song smiled triumphantly.
"No problem."
Same timeline.
Northwest cave dwellings.
Our army's generals were also looking at the sky.
A young soldier said nervously.
"Sir, this Celestial Screen is so weird. Will it affect us?"
Mr. Sun smiled.
"Don't be afraid."
"The Celestial Screen reflects history."
"History is written by the people, not by gods."
"Letting the common folk see clearly is a good thing."
"Besides, we fight so the people can be the masters of their own country, not to rank first or second."
"So, watch it when you have free time, treat it as entertainment. When you're busy, naturally, just ignore it."
The soldiers nodded in agreement.
"Sir is right!"
Jap Bandit Headquarters.
Inside a gloomy military tent.
The devil general stared at the Celestial Screen, his face twisted in fanaticism.
"Yoshi."
"A ranking of Chinese foundings?"
"Heh heh heh, is this to celebrate the victory of our great Nippon?"
"Pass down the order. Within three months, we devour China entirely. When that time comes, the first name on China's founding list will be the Heavenly Emperor's!"
"Hai!"
On the Celestial Screen, images began to shift.
[Ranking the True Worth of Founding Eras in Chinese History.]
[Eleventh Place.]
[Western Jin.]
[Founding Difficulty: Top of the food chain.]
[Founding Quality: Absolute garbage.]
Bullet comments flooded in like a tide.
[Hahaha, why is Sima Jin only eleventh? Don't these lists usually do top ten?]
[Mainly because Western Jin's founding quality was too trashy. Getting kicked out of the top ten is understandable.]
[True. But speaking of which, who's first? My bet is Zhu Baba, the beggar emperor. Who can beat that?]
[Of course someone can. Have you looked at the color of our flag? Have you noticed we don't have an emperor?]
[Red flags across the universe! Definitely first! Though they'll probably save it for the finale.]
Great Qin.
Ying Zheng read the bullet comments, his brows tightly furrowed.
"A beggar can become emperor? Who is this Zhu Baba?"
"And what is a red flag? No emperor? Then how do you found a nation?"
Great Tang.
Li Shimin's gaze sharpened.
"A red flag."
"No emperor."
"What kind of dynasty and nation is that?"
"I must watch closely..."
Great Ming.
Zhu Yuanzhang snorted coldly.
"I refuse to believe anyone can match my founding!"
Modern Era.
Baldy's face turned iron-blue.
"Niang xi pi! Shouldn't it be the Blue Sky and White Sun!"
"Someone! Pass down my orders. No major newspaper is allowed to report on this!"
"Also, keep controlling public opinion! No one is allowed to discuss it!"