Dragon Monarch System Chapter 1000:- Level Three Dragon Palace [I]

The Dragon Palace is presently divided into three distinct zones. The outer section serves as a cultivation ground for Dragonians and Dragon Warriors residing within.

As per their routine, everyone remained engrossed in their Cultivation. Since access to the Dragon Palace is not permanent, the duration allowed for internal practice occurs in rotational cycles. Consequently, the occupants treat this window with immense gravity, unwilling to waste a single fleeting second.

Entry into the inner and core districts is strictly prohibited for the general populace. Thus, the whereabouts of the Dragon Monarch relative to the palace's inner sanctum remain unknown to the residents. Furthermore, the Royal Family maintains no direct interaction with those engaged in cultivation.

Those training here have long since grown accustomed to this separation; their rank is simply insufficient to warrant access to the Core area.

The daily rhythm followed its usual course: some practiced, others dined in the cafeteria, and a few engaged in sparring after brief respites. Yet, today brought an unusual occurrence.

In the evening, a collective message was relayed to everyone.

[The Dragon Palace is undergoing a transformation. All personnel must evacuate the premises immediately.]

Upon hearing this booming announcement, surprise rippled through the crowd. Having witnessed or heard tales of the miraculous developments within the Dragon Palace months prior, they knew what was coming.

Within five minutes, every cultivator present, including those stationed in the inner layer, had vacated the palace.

Several kilometers away, beyond the perimeter of the Dragon Palace, the Dragon Monarch and the Royal Family stood waiting for the evacuation to conclude.

"Your Majesty!" Upon spotting Aditya, the crowd prepared to kneel before their Emperor, but Aditya waved his hand, motions them to desist.

"Ensure all of you maintain a significant distance from the Dragon Palace," Spencer’s thunderous voice resonated across the assembly.

Simultaneously, a reinforced cordon of guards surrounded the palace to prevent unauthorized intruders or malicious actors from exploiting the transition to tamper with defensive arrays, plant explosives, or commit other sabotage.

"Your Majesty, all preparations are complete." Aditya gave a sharp nod. He confirmed through his senses that, aside from the vegetation, the palace was entirely vacant.

"The time has arrived!"

Before his departure, Aditya had resolved to elevate the Dragon Palace into a fortress capable of repelling even those at the peak of fifth-order Cultivation. Even if an organization attempted an assault, the structure would be impervious to the simultaneous strikes of multiple peak fifth-order cultivators.

Aditya silently invoked the system panel, reviewing the criteria necessary for a level 3 upgrade.

『To upgrade the Dragon Palace to level 3, the host must gather the following materials while also completing some requirements.』

- 500 tons of refined gold [600/500]

- 450 tons of refined meteorite ore [500/450]

- Increase the number of Dragonians to 250,000 [280,000/250,000]

- Increase the number of Dragon Warriors to 25,000 [25,000/25,000]

- 1 Ton of Anti-Gravity Crystals [1/1]

- Establish the Temple of Dragons [1/1]

- 110 tons of Low Spirit Stones[200/110]

- 100 tons of Mana Stones [200/100]

- Become a Beginner 5th-order Cultivator』

Aditya had intentionally over-prepared, ensuring the upgrade would be all the more magnificent. Surplus materials would not go to waste; rather, they would be integrated to render the Dragon Palace more opulent and awe-inspiring.

'I hope the Dragon Palace increases in size.' Reflecting on the proximity to Azure City, he felt a twinge of concern. Originally, the distance spanned 7 to 8 kilometers (approximately 4.35 to 4.97 miles). The Capital and the Dragon Palace were mutually visible.

When the Palace reached level 2, its footprint expanded significantly, narrowing the gap between the two. Even as the Capital grew in all directions, the intervening space continued to shrink.

Should the Palace expand further, the buffer zone might vanish entirely. It was conceivable that the City and the Palace would become so close that a mundane human could traverse the distance on foot in a mere minute or two.

'I hope the Anti-Gravity Crystals are applied effectively.' The thought of such extreme proximity unsettled him. Although the Palace was shrouded in arrays that obfuscated prying eyes, the lack of geographic separation instilled a strange discomfort, as if he were being watched.

Beyond that, the physical distance had once provided an inherent sense of exclusivity and sanctity that he was loath to abandon.

'System, upgrade the Dragon Palace to level 3!'

For a fleeting moment, nothing occurred. The onlookers stared at the Palace and then at Aditya, whose expression remained stoic.

A second later, he squeezed his eyes shut.

Following a brief silence, the structure began to emit a soft glow. With every passing heartbeat, the radiance intensified in brilliance.

Since the phenomenon occurred in the waning hours of the evening, the intense luminosity soon reached the residents of Azure City.

Those with experience, having witnessed previous upgrades, quickly deduced the nature of the event.

Soon, the brilliance became so blinding that onlookers had no choice but to shield their eyes or look away.

"It has begun."

A wave of palpable excitement rippled through the crowd. The betterment of the Dragon Palace did not merely uplift the Emperor and the Royal Family; it offered tangible benefits to every citizen of the Istarin Empire.

『Ding! Time required to complete the upgrade: 900 seconds』

"This will require some time." This duration was unprecedented in previous upgrades, suggesting that the very essence and appearance of the Palace—both interior and exterior—were undergoing a fundamental shift.

Without Aditya's immediate knowledge, word of the massive tremors and light emanating from the Dragon Palace spread like wildfire. As the transformation unfolded, throngs of citizens poured out of the capital, desperate to witness such a miraculous spectacle.

To them, this was a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence that simply could not be missed.

Congestion at the gates became so severe that guards were forced to throw them wide open to facilitate the flow of the masses. Meanwhile, countless individuals scaled the city walls to get a better vantage point.

A profound sense of pride and joy permeated the air. Unlike other realms, the populace shared a unified identity: they were citizens of the Istarin Empire. They held a deep sense of belonging under the banner of the Dragon Monarch.

Not a single citizen felt anything less than pride in their great Empire.

Aditya had never relied on propaganda to manufacture this unity. His focus had consistently been the creation of an environment where his citizens lived free from the specters of racism, prejudice, inequality, and poverty. Since his inception as ruler, these goals had guided his silent, steady path.

The collective identity forged in the hearts of his people was the result of the emperor’s tangible benevolence.

A testament to this was that, among the people of the Istarin Dynasty, every family had experienced significant advancement following these transformations. There was no household in the capital that had not seen improvements in their financial standing.

How could they not cherish this Empire? It remained the sole sanctuary across the six continents where commoners were treated with the basic dignity due to any sentient being.

Race, caste, gender, religion, and Cultivation were never catalysts for debate or discrimination here.

The Empire empowered every industrious man and woman to walk with their heads held high, free from the burdens of shame.

It was the only realm where the Emperor truly held his citizens’ well-being at heart, as evidenced by his progressive policies. The Empire maintained one of the lowest tax burdens across the six continents, and there was no tolerance for nobles, soldiers, or bureaucrats who sought to exploit or impoverish the common class.

"I did not anticipate such an exodus from the capital merely to witness this event." Aditya was genuinely surprised, particularly as the numbers continued to swell.

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I am deeply grateful to all who have offered support through golden tickets and gifts. I hope we can maintain this momentum!