As Luke's luxurious yacht drew closer to the Melbourne cityscape, his excitement grew. He could finally see the world that was exclusively his.
Around noon, Luke arrived at the Forbidden City. The city stood by the sea, accompanied by a small port. The majestic and spectacular sight was precisely as he had seen in his original world.
Luke exclaimed, "Incredible! This world after the transition is truly astonishing! It has broadened my horizons!"
About half an hour later, he reached the port. Controlling the console, he docked the yacht and disembarked. After walking along the pier for a while, he arrived at the legendary Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City.
As Luke stared at the Meridian Gate in bewilderment, he suddenly remembered the Universe Conscious in his consciousness and wondered, "Where are you, Universe Conscious?"
"I am always here," the Universe Conscious replied.
"What should I do next?" Luke asked, puzzled.
"You'll find out as you continue exploring. What awaits inside will leave you dumbfounded."
Filled with anticipation and excitement, Luke strode through the Meridian Gate and followed the central axis paved with white marble slabs to the Hall of Supreme Harmony. There, he saw the sign bearing the three characters "Hall of Supreme Harmony" and, within, a dazzling golden throne adorned with intricate dragon carvings.
Luke's heart raced. The throne was so close now. He recalled his previous visit to the Forbidden City, when he could only glimpse the throne from a distance but not enter. But now, he finally had the opportunity to sit on it! Moreover, the throne seemed to be crafted from 24-karat gold.
Luke ascended the steps and leisurely sat upon the throne, his eyes gleaming and his expression composed.
A mix of emotions stirred within him. Although he had been a privileged and wealthy young man in his original world, he had never experienced anything like this. Sitting on the prestigious throne now was simply unimaginable.
Suddenly, a sonorous voice rang out from outside, "Long live the Emperor, for ten thousand years!"
A group of courtiers appeared, dressed in the attire of the Ming Dynasty. Luke summoned the Universe Conscious and asked, "Who are these people? Where did they all come from?"
"They are mere illusions I've created to complement your performance. But if you don't want them, that's fine too," the Universe Conscious replied, laughing heartily.
"When did the Universe Conscious become so amusing?" Luke wondered, bewildered.
"I do as I please. Is that any of your business?" the Universe Conscious retorted haughtily.
After a while, Luke finally arrived at his residence, the Qianqing Palace. Despite the ancient exterior of the Forbidden City, its interior was equipped with modern technology, fully automated, and protected by round-the-clock security, just like a contemporary metropolis.
Luke located a desk and switched on the integrated smart computer with an 8K display. He accessed the management system, which opened a window prompting him to name his kingdom.
After some hesitation and a ten-second internal struggle, Luke decided to name it the Kingdom of Australis.
With the naming complete, the management system displayed a series of data:
"
Country name: The Kingdom of Australis
Population: 25 million
Per capita GDP: 70,000 AUD
...
"
The data was similar to what Luke had known about Australia in his previous world, but the population was meager. A vast continent of over 7 million square kilometers was home to so few people, and two-thirds of the land was inhospitable. To develop these barren lands, the natural environment had to be transformed, and more Asian immigrants had to be attracted for settlement.
The Universe Conscious explained, "You only need to issue the command and select the designated location for construction. The duration will depend on the local technical capabilities and work efficiency, with a minimum of ten years for completion."
Luke was inwardly frustrated. He knew how poor Australia's infrastructure capabilities were in his previous world. Furthermore, local workers only worked eight-hour days and took weekends off, often slacking on the job, resulting in low efficiency. A project that would take two years in China could take at least five years in Australia.
"But you can improve local technical capabilities and work efficiency through the marketplace or through various policies in reality," the Universe Conscious added nonchalantly.
After familiarizing himself with the basics through the computer, Luke suddenly remembered, "Can I have a harem with three thousand beauties later?"
"Of course. As long as you can find them in reality, they'll be yours. This includes famous historical figures and talented individuals from all walks of life, who are distributed worldwide, not just in your kingdom," the eUniverse Conscious responded.
However, Luke hesitated. For now, he needed to secure a solid foundation. Establishing a harem and recruiting talented individuals could wait.
By then, night had fallen, and a bright moon hung in the sky. Exhausted and drowsy, Luke lay down on the custom-made triple-sized luxury bed in the palace. He thought to himself, "If only I had a beauty on my left to accompany me, I wouldn't feel so lonely. I was a single dog in my previous life, but in this world, I must realize my unfulfilled dream of twenty years!"
Luke then drifted off to sleep and didn't wake up until the next day.