Chapter 1: A New Empire, A New Beginning

In a rented room near Zhongyuan University of Technology, Li Mingze, with disheveled hair and a haggard face, glared fiercely at his computer monitor.

He had lost again! This was already his fifth game, and since he started playing, he had never won once! He felt like he was on the verge of a breakdown. This damn game was impossible to play—no matter what he did, he always ended up being crushed by the enemy.

"If only I could be thrown into the game, I'd definitely conquer the entire galaxy!" Li Mingze muttered bitterly under his breath.

But alas, such an opportunity didn't exist. Li Mingze sighed. There was nothing he could do but start a new game.

"Time to create a new race. Hmm, human appearance, with yellow skin—a Chinese look."

"Government type? Let's go with Imperial. Dictatorship sounds fun to play."

"Materialism and Militarism. What's the point of playing a game if you're not going to wage war? Might as well be a salted fish."

"Next, the empire's name. Let's call it the Sith Empire. Sounds like a big, bad, tyrannical empire waiting for the protagonist to destroy it. I like it! FTL drive type? Hyperspace engine, of course."

"Final options: homeworld type—continental, homeworld name—Sith, star system name—Sith System."

With all the options selected, Li Mingze clicked the "Start Game" button. Just as he was about to dive into another round, a wave of drowsiness hit him. He slowly slumped over the desk, his eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

As the sound of an alarm rang out, a clear, melodious female voice echoed in Li Mingze's ears:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, it's time to wake up."

Li Mingze slowly opened his bleary eyes and rubbed the corners of his eyes. He vaguely saw a beautiful figure standing by the bed, which made him wonder if he had a wife.

"Wasn't I just playing a game? How did I end up in bed? Did I sleepwalk?"

"And now I'm hallucinating about having a wife! I must be calcium-deficient!" Li Mingze shook his groggy head, stretched, and sat up.

"Your Majesty, the Supreme Law has sensed your desire to rule the galaxy and has materialized the empire you created in the game!"

"Now, you have arrived in your very own empire, where you are the supreme emperor!" The pleasant voice continued.

"My own empire? I just muttered something, and it became real?" Li Mingze looked around in shock. He found himself sitting on a massive bed in a room that seemed to be a bedroom, spanning over 300 square meters with a ceiling height of more than five meters. The room was decorated in black and gold, with a sleek, minimalist sci-fi style.

To the left of the bed was a row of floor-to-ceiling windows, over twenty meters long and five meters high, covered by armored shutters that blocked the view outside.

On the right side of the bed stood a beautiful woman in a black cheongsam. She had a graceful figure and elegant temperament. The black cheongsam had red electric lines running on it, which added a mysterious touch. Li Mingze could swear that this beauty was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life! No one else!

"I am the empire's management AI and your personal assistant: Tianyi," the cheongsam-clad woman said with a slight bow and a proper smile.

"Your Majesty, the Supreme Law has guided you to your empire! Under your leadership, the empire will ascend to the throne of the stars! The empire's flag will be planted across the galaxy!"

"To borrow a famous quote: I came; I saw; I conquered, Tianyi spoke slowly, her voice carrying a magnetic charm that made it impossible not to believe her.

This was amazing! If he could meet this Supreme Law, Li Mingze would jump up and kiss it twice.

Having been well-versed in novels, Li Mingze wasn't overly shocked. He simply waved his fist excitedly in the air: "I Li Mingze finally reached the pinnacle of life!"

Since he was here, he might as well make the most of it. If fate had given him this opportunity, he would cherish it dearly. From today onward, he, Li Mingze, would bring a little surprise to this quiet galaxy.

Li Mingze got out of bed and walked to the window. The metallic shutters slowly rose, and the orange-yellow morning sun filled the room, revealing a breathtaking view outside.

He was at the highest point of the entire city. Below him stretched an endless sea of silver skyscrapers, connected by sky bridges. The pathways between the buildings were lush with vegetation, adding a touch of vitality to the otherwise monotonous steel city.

On the exterior walls of the tall buildings hung huge red and black imperial flags. Countless small spaceships shuttled between the buildings, forming strips of light. From time to time, high-speed suspension trains passed between the tall buildings, and huge holographic billboards floated in the air.

"Your Majesty, all technological products in the empire are restricted by the Supreme Law. All warships, spacecraft, and factories are unconditionally under your control. From the smallest watch to the largest space fortress, everything is under your supreme authority. No one in the empire can overthrow your rule with bare hands. You can intervene in the empire's development as you see fit. Your subjects are born completely loyal to you!"

"You need not worry about anything else. All you need to do is lead the empire to its peak!" Tianyi, the AI, controlled a humanoid robot that draped a black cloak embroidered with the imperial flag over Li Mingze's shoulders.

"This cheat is pretty good. This must be the benefit of crossing over, right? Great! Powerful! Tianyi, take me to the administrative center. I need to revise some policies and laws!"

This was the moment he had been waiting for. He had long wanted to implement his ideas of governance, but as a student with no opportunities, he could only keep them hidden in his heart. But now, things were different. He would turn the empire into a nuclear-powered war machine under his leadership!

"As you wish, Your Majesty!" Tianyi nodded.

The empire's highest authority—the imperial government and military command center—were all concentrated in the "Capital Building" at the heart of the capital. The Capital Building was a massive structure covering 20 square kilometers and standing over 3,000 meters tall. The building was wider at the base and tapered toward the top, shaped like a triangle with a silver-white exterior, resembling a sword piercing the heavens.

Under Tianyi's guidance, Li Mingze arrived at the highest point which was the emperor's private office. The office itself was 15 meters high, with a large desk in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows facing south.

"Your Majesty, this will be your daily workplace from now on," Tianyi said, gesturing for him to enter.

Li Mingze walked over to his "imperial throne" sat down gently, and stretched himself. This high-end seat was a thousand times more comfortable than his old computer chair.

Before Li Mingze could get up, countless holographic screens appeared around him, each representing a different category.

Mineral, Energy, and Research Points

"What are these numbers next to minerals, energy, and research?" Li Mingze asked curiously, looking at the values displayed at the top of all the screens. Although he had a vague idea, it was better to clarify such important matters.

"Energy points refer to the standard currency unit. Due to technological advancements, interstellar colonization and spacecraft require vast amounts of energy, so energy crystals have become the mainstream currency. As for mineral points, since the empire uses matter-printing technology—where basic minerals are broken down into quarks and then reassembled into the materials we need—the complexity and density of the materials determine the amount of mineral points required. Thus, minerals also serve as a universal currency."

"Research points, simplified by the Supreme Law, allow the empire to focus on three core technologies at a time: physics, society, and industry. Through these screens, you can accurately track what the scientists are researching, their future research directions, and the time required to complete their studies."

"The more research points you have, the stronger the empire's research capabilities, and the faster its technological development. Research points can be increased by establishing research institutes."

"Presenting these technological data in a quantifiable manner helps you better manage and develop the empire. This is also one of your advantages," Tianyi explained.

Nodding, Li Mingze found the policy page among the screens and issued his first decree as the new emperor.

Imperial Calendar 2020.01.01

From this day forward, no one knew that in a small corner of the galaxy, an extraordinary empire had been born. Under the leadership of its great emperor, it would extend its reach across the stars!

Class Structure of the Empire:

Emperor Li Mingze: The highest authority in the empire.

Scientists: The empire encourages people to pursue science, as advanced technology is essential for the empire's continued development. Scientists enjoy the highest privileges.

Military Personnel: The military is the empire's tool for expanding its territory. Soldiers enjoy treatment, second only to scientists. Those who cannot become scientists can join the military to contribute to the empire's expansion.

Engineers: Skilled technicians are indispensable to any empire.

Merchants: Under the empire's autocratic system, all heavy industries, finance, the optical network, and media are exclusively controlled by the emperor. Merchants can only engage in light industries, catering, and entertainment.

Entertainment Industry: A strong, upward-moving civilization does not prioritize the entertainment industry. Only decaying empires obsess over entertainment! Besides, the empire's citizens should focus on contributing to society!

Citizens: These are people who create no value and only receive basic subsidies from the empire. With the high level of mechanization, many jobs have been replaced by machines. Unskilled civilians do not need to work and only receive basic living allowances. To earn more, they must contribute to the empire and increase their contribution points.

Slaves: Anyone who commits a crime is demoted to slavery. Slaves and their offspring are supported by the state.

What? No alien citizens? Well, Emperor Li Mingze is just that xenophobic. Defeated civilizations can only become slaves or cannon fodder. Only the most outstanding among them can become scientists and have their families converted into imperial citizens. Alternatively, they can join Emperor Li Mingze's Free Liberation Orbital Drop Army (cannon fodder). Survive ten missions, and they can become citizens.