After casually dropping this sentence, the Great Liang Emperor had been waiting for Chen Chao's reply. Between them, there were countless entanglements. When the Great Liang Emperor had not returned to the Divine Capital, Chen Chao had considered countless possibilities. But in the end, he realized to his dismay that no matter what, the Great Liang Emperor could very well kill him. Yet now, when the Great Liang Emperor bluntly told him that he would not think of killing him, could this statement be believed?
In other words, would there be a day when he would realize that he was actually alive just to be a pawn in another of the Great Liang Emperor's scheme? Would the Great Liang Emperor use him to do something else?
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The Great Liang Emperor looked at Chen Chao, who remained silent for a long time. As if he understood what he was thinking, he said calmly, "We have said that when the day comes that you can truly kill with the saber in your hand, you won't worry about these things. When your life is in your own hands, no one, no matter who they are, can scheme against you."
Hearing this, Chen Chao breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly stood up, feeling intense pain in his internal organs, as if they had all ruptured. A casual strike from a martial artist like the Great Liang Emperor would render even a Great Beyond Realm cultivator unable to stand at this moment. But Chen Chao's body had been tempered exceptionally well, and he managed to rise to his feet at this moment.
Looking at his uncle, Chen Chao clasped his hands slightly. However, he did not speak.
After a moment of silence, the Great Liang Emperor could not hold back a matter that he had kept hidden in his heart. He spoke up, "If you don't recognize me as your uncle, then what about her? You have to at least call her aunt. Before her death, she regretted not clarifying the relationship with you. She probably wanted to hear you call her 'aunt' before she died."
The Great Liang Empress, a woman whom no one in the Great Liang Dynasty could find fault with, did not desire to see her children in her final moments. Instead, she wanted to hear her nephew address her as "aunt." However, after much consideration, she ultimately chose not to reveal this while alive. Perhaps in her mind, as long as she did not expose this matter or reveal Chen Chao's identity, the Great Liang Emperor would have more room to maneuver, and there would be no need for the uncle and nephew to end up in a situation where one had to die.
But little did she know, the moment Chen Chao appeared in the Divine Capital, his identity could no longer be suppressed. Even if he did not actively disclose it, there would be more people with ulterior motives trying to inform the Great Liang Emperor of his true identity. This would force the Great Liang Emperor to make a choice. Even if he did not make a choice, there would be many others willing to speculate on his intentions and help him make that decision.
But whether intentional or not, Chen Chao at the time had no choice. After killing those qi refiners, he could only come to the Divine Capital to have a glimmer of hope.
However, no one knew that in the mind of the Great Liang Emperor, how the world thought and the state of affairs were never his primary concern. He only cared about the thoughts of that woman, the one who initially called him "Your Highness," then "Prince," and finally addressed him as "Your Majesty."
If she said she did not want Chen Chao to die, then he would not want that child dead either.
This might seem utterly irrational to others, but for the Great Liang Emperor, it was the most logical thing in the world.
After his meeting with the Infatuation Daoist Temple Master, there was actually one thing that no one knew. After saying all that needed to be said, the Great Liang Emperor actually asked the Temple Master a question: whether the Infatuation Daoist Temple truly possessed a medicine that could bring dying people back to life completely.
The Temple Master did not hide things, but told him straightforwardly that if one's origin was not damaged and only suffered severe injuries, many medicinal pills in the Infatuation Daoist Temple could treat it. However, if the vital essence was depleted, even the immortal medicine of the legends would be of no use.
Moreover, ordinary people like the Great Liang Empress probably could not even withstand the slightest medical effect of an immortal medicine
In other words, in the state she was in at the time, no one in the world could have saved the Great Liang Empress.
The Great Liang Emperor remained silent for a long time. In the end, his temples even turned a bit grayer.
Chen Chao opened his mouth but could not speak, instead, he coughed up a pool of blood.
The blow from the Great Liang Emperor had truly inflicted considerable injury.
The Great Liang Emperor glanced at Chen Chao, said nothing more, and simply turned to leave the academy.
Chen Chao stood in place, staring for a long time.
……
……
When Chen Chao returned to the lakeside courtyard, Xie Nandu had actually been sitting under the eaves the whole time. Seeing this person struggling to walk even to the front door, Xie Nandu quickly got up, took a few quick steps, and arrived at the door. She helped Chen Chao under the eaves before asking, "Did you have a fight with His Majesty?"
Chen Chao chuckled wryly, "You think highly of me too. Can I fight with someone like His Majesty?"
Xie Nandu said to herself, "Maybe he suppressed his cultivation realm to fight, but from the looks of it, you're severely injured."
Chen Chao cast a weak glance at the girl in front of him. Suppressing his realm to battle with the same cultivation realm, Chen Chao had some confidence when facing any cultivator under the heavens. However, when confronting the Great Liang Emperor, he could not help but feel his heart race. He was likely not a match for him.
This strongest martial artist in the world truly made far too many people unable to face him head-on. Even if he suppressed his realm and they fought with the same cultivation realm, it was likely the same too.
Xie Nandu said with vicissitudes of emotion, "It's a fortunate thing for the Great Liang Dynasty to have such a ruler."
Chen Chao could not refute her. If it were not for his magnanimity, he might be dead by now.
Xie Nandu quickly added, "Speaking of which, your future in the Great Liang Dynasty seems somewhat precarious, doesn't it?"
Chen Chao raised an eyebrow, "Even His Majesty doesn't kill me, who else would dare to try?"
Xie Nandu rubbed her eyes and remained silent.
Chen Chao sighed, "Just bolstering my own courage."
He quickly changed the subject and asked, "Your several flying swords seem quite impressive now. In your future path of swordsmanship, do you plan to nurture all nine flying swords to the extreme, where each flying sword is a sword immortal, or something else?"
In truth, even just saying these words made Chen Chao feel apprehensive. If each of the nine flying swords were nurtured to the extreme, it would mean that when Xie Nandu stepped into the Nepenthe Realm, each of these flying swords would be a sword immortal. Nine flying swords meant nine sword immortals, would she truly have any rivals within the same realm?
Xie Nandu said with some disdain, "Do you really think such a thing can be achieved by someone?"
Chen Chao replied solemnly, "If it were someone else, I wouldn't believe it, but if it's you, I have no doubt."
As he uttered these words, Chen Chao's did not turn red nor did his heart rate increase. Even he himself felt impressed by his ability to speak so convincingly.
Xie Nandu was indifferent, she just muttered, "What's the use of becoming a sword immortal? What's the use if you can kill people?"
Her sudden reflection left Chen Chao unsure of how to respond.
Then, Xie Nandu suddenly asked, "Chen Chao, what do you think of the current state of the world?"
Chen Chao pondered for a moment before replying, "The books state..."
"Don't tell me what you've read!" Xie Nandu fixed her gaze on Chen Chao, her eyes displaying an unprecedented seriousness.
Chen Chao furrowed his brow, then quickly continued, "The current state of the world, it's better than before, it's already good, but not good enough."
"Continue."
Xie Nandu looked at him and did not look away.
"The world is better than before because the demons in the north can't come south to eat people anymore. It's because at least we can refuse instead of always nodding our heads. But it's not good enough because we haven't reclaimed what we've lost, because we haven't truly gained respect, because our backbone has not yet been fully straightened."
Xie Nandu nodded approvingly, saying proudly, "I'm fortunate and proud to live in today's Great Liang Dynasty and be born in the current world. But the world still isn't good enough..."
Pausing for a moment, Xie Nandu smiled, "Chen Chao, together, we can make this world a better place!"
At this moment, Chen Chao seemed to realize that Xie Nandu at this moment was incredibly radiant. She exuded a captivating aura from head to toe.
……
……
The Great Liang Emperor left the academy but did not head towards the imperial city. Instead, he walked slowly to the mountain behind the imperial city. In the Great Liang Dynasty, the mausoleums of past emperors were all located outside the city, and the empresses would also be buried alongside the emperors. However, this Great Liang Emperor was never one to adhere strictly to conventions. Therefore, the mausoleum of the Great Liang Empress was actually built behind the imperial city, where it could overlook the city.
After the location of the empress's mausoleum was determined, the Great Liang Emperor also decided on where his mausoleum would be. They were not to be buried side by side, but rather together.
This matter was not only unprecedented in the history of the Great Liang Dynasty but also in the history of all dynasties. The emperor and empress being buried together. Furthermore, it was not the empress moving into the emperor's mausoleum, but the emperor being buried in the empress' mausoleum after his death!
When the Great Liang Emperor proposed this idea some time ago, the Ministry of Rites was in uproar. However, in the end, the Great Liang Emperor simply decreed that there was no need for further discussion, and the matter was settled.
Now, as the Great Liang Emperor walked into the mausoleum, the guards bowed their heads slightly, saying nothing more.
Standing before the tombstone of the empress, the Great Liang Emperor stood tall. He had changed into a new emperor robe, his hair impeccably groomed. Then, he began to recount his journey to the North, from venturing deep into the thirty thousand miles of desolate north, to the journey back South, detailing every single aspect.
At this moment, the most difficult man of the Great Liang Dynasty was not thinking about anything else. He was just like an ordinary man returning home after a day's work, sharing his experiences with his wife.
And his wife did not interrupt either, silently listening with eyes full of admiration for the man in front of her.
As he concluded, the Great Liang Emperor took out a flower from his pocket and placed it in front of the tombstone, saying softly with a smile. "On my way out, I saw a beautiful flower and thought you would like it, so I brought it back for you. Take a look and tell me if you like it."
After casually dropping this sentence, the Great Liang Emperor had been waiting for Chen Chao's reply. Between them, there were countless entanglements. When the Great Liang Emperor had not returned to the Divine Capital, Chen Chao had considered countless possibilities. But in the end, he realized to his dismay that no matter what, the Great Liang Emperor could very well kill him. Yet now, when the Great Liang Emperor bluntly told him that he would not think of killing him, could this statement be believed?
In other words, would there be a day when he would realize that he was actually alive just to be a pawn in another of the Great Liang Emperor's scheme? Would the Great Liang Emperor use him to do something else?
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The Great Liang Emperor looked at Chen Chao, who remained silent for a long time. As if he understood what he was thinking, he said calmly, "We have said that when the day comes that you can truly kill with the saber in your hand, you won't worry about these things. When your life is in your own hands, no one, no matter who they are, can scheme against you."
Hearing this, Chen Chao breathed a sigh of relief. He slowly stood up, feeling intense pain in his internal organs, as if they had all ruptured. A casual strike from a martial artist like the Great Liang Emperor would render even a Great Beyond Realm cultivator unable to stand at this moment. But Chen Chao's body had been tempered exceptionally well, and he managed to rise to his feet at this moment.
Looking at his uncle, Chen Chao clasped his hands slightly. However, he did not speak.
After a moment of silence, the Great Liang Emperor could not hold back a matter that he had kept hidden in his heart. He spoke up, "If you don't recognize me as your uncle, then what about her? You have to at least call her aunt. Before her death, she regretted not clarifying the relationship with you. She probably wanted to hear you call her 'aunt' before she died."
The Great Liang Empress, a woman whom no one in the Great Liang Dynasty could find fault with, did not desire to see her children in her final moments. Instead, she wanted to hear her nephew address her as "aunt." However, after much consideration, she ultimately chose not to reveal this while alive. Perhaps in her mind, as long as she did not expose this matter or reveal Chen Chao's identity, the Great Liang Emperor would have more room to maneuver, and there would be no need for the uncle and nephew to end up in a situation where one had to die.
But little did she know, the moment Chen Chao appeared in the Divine Capital, his identity could no longer be suppressed. Even if he did not actively disclose it, there would be more people with ulterior motives trying to inform the Great Liang Emperor of his true identity. This would force the Great Liang Emperor to make a choice. Even if he did not make a choice, there would be many others willing to speculate on his intentions and help him make that decision.
But whether intentional or not, Chen Chao at the time had no choice. After killing those qi refiners, he could only come to the Divine Capital to have a glimmer of hope.
However, no one knew that in the mind of the Great Liang Emperor, how the world thought and the state of affairs were never his primary concern. He only cared about the thoughts of that woman, the one who initially called him "Your Highness," then "Prince," and finally addressed him as "Your Majesty."
If she said she did not want Chen Chao to die, then he would not want that child dead either.
This might seem utterly irrational to others, but for the Great Liang Emperor, it was the most logical thing in the world.
After his meeting with the Infatuation Daoist Temple Master, there was actually one thing that no one knew. After saying all that needed to be said, the Great Liang Emperor actually asked the Temple Master a question: whether the Infatuation Daoist Temple truly possessed a medicine that could bring dying people back to life completely.
The Temple Master did not hide things, but told him straightforwardly that if one's origin was not damaged and only suffered severe injuries, many medicinal pills in the Infatuation Daoist Temple could treat it. However, if the vital essence was depleted, even the immortal medicine of the legends would be of no use.
Moreover, ordinary people like the Great Liang Empress probably could not even withstand the slightest medical effect of an immortal medicine
In other words, in the state she was in at the time, no one in the world could have saved the Great Liang Empress.
The Great Liang Emperor remained silent for a long time. In the end, his temples even turned a bit grayer.
Chen Chao opened his mouth but could not speak, instead, he coughed up a pool of blood.
The blow from the Great Liang Emperor had truly inflicted considerable injury.
The Great Liang Emperor glanced at Chen Chao, said nothing more, and simply turned to leave the academy.
Chen Chao stood in place, staring for a long time.
……
……
When Chen Chao returned to the lakeside courtyard, Xie Nandu had actually been sitting under the eaves the whole time. Seeing this person struggling to walk even to the front door, Xie Nandu quickly got up, took a few quick steps, and arrived at the door. She helped Chen Chao under the eaves before asking, "Did you have a fight with His Majesty?"
Chen Chao chuckled wryly, "You think highly of me too. Can I fight with someone like His Majesty?"
Xie Nandu said to herself, "Maybe he suppressed his cultivation realm to fight, but from the looks of it, you're severely injured."
Chen Chao cast a weak glance at the girl in front of him. Suppressing his realm to battle with the same cultivation realm, Chen Chao had some confidence when facing any cultivator under the heavens. However, when confronting the Great Liang Emperor, he could not help but feel his heart race. He was likely not a match for him.
This strongest martial artist in the world truly made far too many people unable to face him head-on. Even if he suppressed his realm and they fought with the same cultivation realm, it was likely the same too.
Xie Nandu said with vicissitudes of emotion, "It's a fortunate thing for the Great Liang Dynasty to have such a ruler."
Chen Chao could not refute her. If it were not for his magnanimity, he might be dead by now.
Xie Nandu quickly added, "Speaking of which, your future in the Great Liang Dynasty seems somewhat precarious, doesn't it?"
Chen Chao raised an eyebrow, "Even His Majesty doesn't kill me, who else would dare to try?"
Xie Nandu rubbed her eyes and remained silent.
Chen Chao sighed, "Just bolstering my own courage."
He quickly changed the subject and asked, "Your several flying swords seem quite impressive now. In your future path of swordsmanship, do you plan to nurture all nine flying swords to the extreme, where each flying sword is a sword immortal, or something else?"
In truth, even just saying these words made Chen Chao feel apprehensive. If each of the nine flying swords were nurtured to the extreme, it would mean that when Xie Nandu stepped into the Nepenthe Realm, each of these flying swords would be a sword immortal. Nine flying swords meant nine sword immortals, would she truly have any rivals within the same realm?
Xie Nandu said with some disdain, "Do you really think such a thing can be achieved by someone?"
Chen Chao replied solemnly, "If it were someone else, I wouldn't believe it, but if it's you, I have no doubt."
As he uttered these words, Chen Chao's did not turn red nor did his heart rate increase. Even he himself felt impressed by his ability to speak so convincingly.
Xie Nandu was indifferent, she just muttered, "What's the use of becoming a sword immortal? What's the use if you can kill people?"
Her sudden reflection left Chen Chao unsure of how to respond.
Then, Xie Nandu suddenly asked, "Chen Chao, what do you think of the current state of the world?"
Chen Chao pondered for a moment before replying, "The books state..."
"Don't tell me what you've read!" Xie Nandu fixed her gaze on Chen Chao, her eyes displaying an unprecedented seriousness.
Chen Chao furrowed his brow, then quickly continued, "The current state of the world, it's better than before, it's already good, but not good enough."
"Continue."
Xie Nandu looked at him and did not look away.
"The world is better than before because the demons in the north can't come south to eat people anymore. It's because at least we can refuse instead of always nodding our heads. But it's not good enough because we haven't reclaimed what we've lost, because we haven't truly gained respect, because our backbone has not yet been fully straightened."
Xie Nandu nodded approvingly, saying proudly, "I'm fortunate and proud to live in today's Great Liang Dynasty and be born in the current world. But the world still isn't good enough..."
Pausing for a moment, Xie Nandu smiled, "Chen Chao, together, we can make this world a better place!"
At this moment, Chen Chao seemed to realize that Xie Nandu at this moment was incredibly radiant. She exuded a captivating aura from head to toe.
……
……
The Great Liang Emperor left the academy but did not head towards the imperial city. Instead, he walked slowly to the mountain behind the imperial city. In the Great Liang Dynasty, the mausoleums of past emperors were all located outside the city, and the empresses would also be buried alongside the emperors. However, this Great Liang Emperor was never one to adhere strictly to conventions. Therefore, the mausoleum of the Great Liang Empress was actually built behind the imperial city, where it could overlook the city.
After the location of the empress's mausoleum was determined, the Great Liang Emperor also decided on where his mausoleum would be. They were not to be buried side by side, but rather together.
This matter was not only unprecedented in the history of the Great Liang Dynasty but also in the history of all dynasties. The emperor and empress being buried together. Furthermore, it was not the empress moving into the emperor's mausoleum, but the emperor being buried in the empress' mausoleum after his death!
When the Great Liang Emperor proposed this idea some time ago, the Ministry of Rites was in uproar. However, in the end, the Great Liang Emperor simply decreed that there was no need for further discussion, and the matter was settled.
Now, as the Great Liang Emperor walked into the mausoleum, the guards bowed their heads slightly, saying nothing more.
Standing before the tombstone of the empress, the Great Liang Emperor stood tall. He had changed into a new emperor robe, his hair impeccably groomed. Then, he began to recount his journey to the North, from venturing deep into the thirty thousand miles of desolate north, to the journey back South, detailing every single aspect.
At this moment, the most difficult man of the Great Liang Dynasty was not thinking about anything else. He was just like an ordinary man returning home after a day's work, sharing his experiences with his wife.
And his wife did not interrupt either, silently listening with eyes full of admiration for the man in front of her.
As he concluded, the Great Liang Emperor took out a flower from his pocket and placed it in front of the tombstone, saying softly with a smile. "On my way out, I saw a beautiful flower and thought you would like it, so I brought it back for you. Take a look and tell me if you like it."
