Chapter 575: Heavenly Might Is Unpredictable

Zu An looked in the direction of the voice. He saw a tall, burly man in a dragon robe standing emotionlessly by a desk not far away, looking at him.

This man was clearly the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. While attire could be faked, this imposing aura was impossible for anyone else to imitate.

He had previously asked Chu Chuyan and learned that the Great Zhou Emperor's name was Zhao Hao. He truly lived up to his name.

Zu An had initially wondered if this most powerful person in the world would have three heads and six arms, but after their eyes met, he only remembered those sharp, piercing eyes.

He couldn't quite describe those eyes. It wasn't that he hadn't seen emperors before; but the one in the Yaoguang Secret Realm was merely a wisp of the First Emperor's remnant soul. Moreover, since Zu An had passed the trial, that emperor had treated him as an ally and not directed any imperial might towards him.

It was similar with Wu Geng in the Yin Ruins. He had been burdened by the regret of bringing disaster upon the Shang Dynasty, and during the trial, he had disguised himself as an ordinary prince, intentionally concealing his aura, so Zu An hadn't felt much pressure.

But this man before him was different. His eyes seemed to penetrate directly into one's heart, instantly scrutinizing you inside and out.

Zu An knew this was a psychological illusion, but he instinctively avoided direct eye contact with him.

Then he noticed the dragon robe. The Emperor held a brush, evidently having just been writing something. Zu An couldn't help but inwardly grumble, "Why do all these important figures love practicing calligraphy to enhance their image?"

The Emperor spoke, his voice imbued with an inexplicable majesty and confidence. "You are different from others. When they see me, they are invariably terrified, yet you still have the leisure to let your mind wander."

Zu An was startled. *He could even tell I was distracted? Does this guy have mind-reading abilities?*

Nevertheless, he replied, "I can't help it. Having clawed my way up from the bottom, with a life as thin as paper, one naturally develops an indomitable spirit."

"You behave this way even in front of me; no wonder you treated the Crown Prince with such an attitude." The Emperor set down his brush. If someone were watching, they would have seen the characters "Longevity" written on the white paper on the desk, followed by a few small dots, indicating that his heart was also filled with hesitation and uncertainty as he wrote.

Of course, as an emperor, he would not reveal any of this to others.

Zu An was startled. "So, Your Majesty already knows."

*How long had it been since he left the Crown Prince, and the Emperor already knew?*

As if reading his thoughts, the Emperor slowly said, "I naturally know. It would be quite difficult to conceal matters within this palace from me."

Zu An remained silent, unsure of the Emperor's purpose in telling him all this. He was currently racking his brain trying to figure out how to put that 'cuckold's hat' on the Emperor.

One of his original plans was to use teleportation to move next to the Emperor and instantly place the hat on his head. If he succeeded, subsequent problems should be manageable.

However, this recent encounter had made him completely abandon that idea.

Although the Emperor stood casually, seemingly only ten feet away, Zu An felt as if they were separated by an immeasurable distance. His own aura couldn't even pinpoint the Emperor's exact location.

Clearly, with the Emperor's cultivation level, Zu An would have no chance of approaching him unless the Emperor willed it.

The Emperor gave him a profound look. "In the past, I would have greatly admired your character and ambition, and perhaps even sought to bring you under my command. But now... a man like you would never be content to serve anyone. The Crown Prince would naturally be unable to control you in the future, and I certainly will not keep such a menace. Guards! Drag him out and execute him! And announce to the world that this is the fate of those who offend the Crown Prince."

Zu An: "???"

*Brother, why aren't you playing by the rules? You just dropped a 'royal flush' right at the start; how am I supposed to respond to that?*

Soon, guards stormed in like wolves. Zu An was about to dodge, but the Emperor merely glanced at him, and Zu An felt as if his entire body was restrained, unable to move even an inch.

In that instant, he was seized by the guards and dragged out with his hands bound.

Zu An shouted, "To kill me on such a fabricated charge, I refuse to accept it!"

The Emperor coldly stated, "My actions throughout my life require no one's approval."

Zu An: "..."

*Brother, you won't make any friends talking like that.*

As the guards dragged him away, he hastily added, "Does Your Majesty not desire the method of eternal life?"

"Eternal life?" The Emperor looked down at the two large characters written on the white paper on the desk, a hint of mockery flashing across his lips. With a flick of his hand, the white paper instantly disintegrated into powder, yet the desk remained completely undamaged, demonstrating his exquisite mastery over his power.

"The notion of eternal life is illusory. Monarchs throughout history have sought it one after another, but has any truly achieved it? I do not believe in such fleeting longevity. On the contrary, in my lifetime, I led humanity to decisively defeat the demon race and unify the eight directions and six realms. Even ten thousand years from now, my great achievements will still be sung throughout the world. *That* is true eternal life." The Emperor's previously impassive expression finally changed, his entire being imbued with an inexplicable fervor.

At this moment, Zu An had a strong urge to curse, wondering, *If you're not interested in eternal life, why did you send people to search for the 'Phoenix Nirvana Sutra', and why did you specifically have me brought here?*

With his life on the line, his mind raced, and he quickly said, "But ten thousand years from now, your great achievements might not be celebrated throughout the world. In fact, even a few hundred years from now, no one might remember you."

"How could that be!" The Emperor flew into a rage. This was the 'eternal life' he pursued, the thing he valued most; how could he tolerate anyone questioning it?

Rage points from Zhao Hao +999!

An overwhelming aura spread outwards, causing the two guards holding Zu An to immediately drop to their knees and beg for forgiveness.

Although Zu An was also heavily affected by this aura, he let out a sigh of relief.

*Finally, I got his rage points! Turns out he's just a human, not a god.*

Naturally, he wouldn't waste the opportunity, lest he lose the chance to speak again. "What I have to say cannot be overheard by a third party."

The Emperor gave him a cold look and waved his hand dismissively, sending the two guards away. With his cultivation, he naturally wasn't worried that Zu An could cause any significant trouble.

After the guards left, the Emperor spoke. "You may speak now. If you dare to play games with me, *heh heh*..." The threat in his voice was palpable.

Zu An had used the previous moments to collect his thoughts. Hearing the Emperor, he replied, "Your Majesty's idea is not flawed. Having your deeds celebrated throughout the world ten thousand years from now is indeed far more meaningful than living an unknown eternal life hidden away in the mountains. However, it may not come to pass as you wish. For your deeds to be passed down for ten thousand years, they must be accurately recorded by historians. But what if there's a change of dynasty? Slandering the previous regime is a common tactic. Even without a change in dynasty, if someone who opposes Your Majesty ascends the throne, they could alter history for their own purposes. While this might not deceive contemporaries, it could easily mislead people a thousand years later. At that point, Your Majesty's deeds would be buried in the river of history, unknown to future generations, and thus, Your Majesty would naturally not achieve eternal life."

The Emperor's eyes narrowed. "Who are you alluding to?"

Zu An smiled slightly. "Your Majesty knows very well, so why ask when you already know the answer?"

*My apologies, Prince Qi, but I have to use you as a shield. Better a dead ally than a dead me.*

The Emperor fell into deep thought. On any other day, if someone dared to speak to him in such a tone, they would have long been dragged out and beaten to death. But Zu An's recent words had indeed struck a chord with him; this was precisely what he had been most concerned and worried about for years.

He looked at Zu An, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Then what good solution do you have?"

Zu An was about to speak when he suddenly noticed the Emperor's gaze and had a thought. *Your Majesty must already have a plan; why should I make a fool of myself? Since Your Majesty wishes to play a game of chess, I suppose I can be a pawn.*

He had genuinely been a bit scared earlier, but now he had realized that the Emperor had gone to such great lengths to bring him to the capital, so there was no way he would have him killed immediately upon meeting him.

This whole charade was most likely a show of force, meant to intimidate him and humble him first.

A hint of surprise flickered in the Emperor's eyes. "You are indeed quite special. No wonder she pleaded on your behalf."