Chapter 118

Chapter 118

Su Zheng let out an angry rebuke, and behind him, the ancestral dragon of national fate spiraled forth, its boundless, winding body covering the entirety of Mount Tai.

A domineering aura vast and infinite swept across heaven and earth—instantly, the phantom images of emperors shattered one after another.

From beginning to end, Su Zheng did not glance at those imperial phantoms even once.

Just a few fake emperors—how dare they deserve the gaze of a true emperor!

Su Zheng’s steps did not pause in the slightest as he continued forward atop Mount Tai.

Each step he took was incomparably resolute, and with each step, the imperial aura around him grew denser and denser.

“Heavens!! His Majesty has truly set foot on the Emperor’s Mountain!!”

“Heaven’s mandate descends! Heaven’s mandate descends!! Our Great Qin Empire shall surely rise!!”

“Hahahaha!! Merging with Great Qin was the wisest decision of my life!”

“Long live the Emperor!! Long live the Emperor!! Long live!!”

As Su Zheng set foot upon the Emperor’s Mountain, the entire court of Great Qin seemed to go mad.

A mountain no one had dared ascend for thousands of years—and yet, this emperor had forcibly trodden it beneath his feet.

How could ministers not be moved? How could they not be overjoyed?!

In this lifetime, to follow such a towering emperor—even if it meant dying a hundred deaths, it would be worth it!!

Atop Mount Tai, Su Zheng advanced step by step, his body being continuously purified by the immense imperial aura.

The unimaginable pressure bombarded his soul.

In that moment, it felt as if all things in the world were oppressing him, trying to halt his ascent upon the path of emperors.

“What is the Dao of Emperors… what is it to be Emperor?!”

An ancient voice fell from the heavens, questioning the emperor.

“To make all beings bow in submission is to be Emperor; to bring peace and well-being to the people is to be Emperor!”

Su Zheng responded, then took another step.

Blood seeped continuously from his body.

“Wrong!!” That towering voice rang again, and instantly, a vast, mighty force swept down from the mountain peak, intending to hurl him from the path.

Yet Su Zheng stood unmoved, even though his robe was soaked in blood, there was no trace of fear in his eyes.

His back remained straight, his heart like the vast heavens!

“What is it to be Emperor!! What is it to be Emperor!!”

“To subjugate all living beings, suppress the myriad heavens—that is Emperor!!”

“Wrong!!”

“To unify the world, sweep across the land, devour the Six Directions—that is Emperor!!”

“Wrong!!”

One cry after another of “wrong,” wave after wave of overwhelming torrents surged toward him.

They seemed to reject everything Su Zheng stood for.

At last, this emperor’s brow furrowed. He looked toward the mountain summit, his gaze chillingly deep.

“I am the Emperor!! My path is the Dao of Emperors!! Who dares say I’m wrong?!”

Su Zheng shouted in fury, and the Dao of Emperors around him erupted violently.

In that instant…

Mount Tai fell silent.

Then— the infinite imperial aura went mad…

It surged into Su Zheng’s body like countless exiled sons finally finding their way home.

In that moment, the imperial aura that had accumulated atop Mount Tai for thousands of years was all absorbed into Su Zheng.

His gaze radiated unmatched majesty— even the heavens would bow before him.

He walked step by step toward the summit of Mount Tai.

Finally, the moment he set foot on the peak—

Buzz!!

The ancestral dragon of fate hovered behind him.

All things in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths seemed to be reflected in his eyes.

He saw the nine great firmaments. He saw the ten lands.

He saw the Three Thousand Grand Domains dotting their surroundings like stars.

In this moment, the Tiandu Grand Domain appeared so small.

The empire he ruled was but a borderland territory.

Yet… facing such disparity, Su Zheng smiled—

As expected, the family leader was right: this world is vast, truly vast!

Vast enough for me to conquer at will, vast enough to unify everything!

“Today I perform the Fengshan Ceremony at Mount Tai.”

“Great Qin is established—let all heavens bear witness!”

At the word of the Emperor, all worlds fell silent.

In that moment, the eternal balance of national fate… shifted.

A black dragon tore open the established order.

Wuming, Yan Han, Divine Xia, Divine Tang—four towering Emperors—watched everything.

They knew a new emperor had been born, but none moved to stop it.

Because they too had grown weary of this stagnant peace, where national fate was fixed, and the Four Great Divine Nations were forced into ten thousand years of stillness.

Now… the time to vie for supremacy had finally come!

…

“…Daoist Sect. Buddhism… these two great religions suppress national fate. I wonder—which will you choose?”

The Hongwu Emperor gazed at the skies and murmured softly.

In the Western Buddhist Kingdom, a tall and short monk stepped forth.

Wherever they passed, Sanskrit chants echoed, and golden lotuses bloomed from the ground.

“Master, are you taking me to seek destiny?” asked the young novice.

The old monk placed his palms together.

“Both yes… and no.”

“The divine beast of national fate has emerged. Out of Buddhist compassion, we must suppress a nation’s fate to prevent the suffering of sentient beings…”

“As for the destiny you seek… it lies in enduring tribulation in the Northern Wasteland.”

In the Eastern Daoist Sect, a slovenly old Daoist calling himself a book-flipper rolled over lazily.

“Go on, go on—go find your own path…”

“Don’t bother trying to suppress national fate. Your role is to assist that person, that’s all…”

“Yes!” a white-clad young Daoist replied and turned to leave.

Only after he left did the book-flipping Daoist sit upright, a deep look in his eyes.

“Xiao Fuzi, whether your fate can change—depends on this time…”*

Su Zheng, having absorbed the infinite imperial aura, saw his cultivation explode.

A great moon rose within him… then a second… and a third.

His cultivation surged upward at terrifying speed.

After the Fengshan Ceremony, he could move freely.

With a single thought, he returned to the ground.

Looking at the thousands of kneeling citizens, Su Zheng’s face held no sorrow or joy.

“It’s a pity… that the family leader did not attend the ceremony…”

Su Zheng felt a twinge of regret. He had originally wished to personally visit Lingxiao Blessed Land and invite the family leader to witness the ceremony.

But the family leader had not been present.

Everything he had now, he owed to the family leader.

And yet, at this most glorious moment, that person was absent—

Even as an emperor, he felt an inexplicable emptiness.

Like a child who had finally achieved something great, but had no elder to share it with.

To outsiders, he was the Emperor of Great Qin.

To those terrifying beings, he was the anomaly who tore open national fate.

But before Su Zhou, he was merely an ordinary descendant of the Su Family.

“Henceforth, all crimes save the most heinous shall be pardoned for three years.”

“The commoners shall be tax-exempt for three years.”

“Merchants may trade freely across the world.”

“Those with military merit may serve in court.”

“Great Qin shall judge not by background or birth, but by capability alone!”

Su Zheng proclaimed loudly.

“Long live His Majesty!! Long live the Emperor!! Long live!! Long live!!”

Ministers, citizens, and thousands of troops roared their allegiance.

Su Zheng gave a slight nod.

Just as he was preparing to return to the capital—

A mournful voice slowly echoed out—

“Amitābha… Your Majesty, there is still one matter you’ve forgotten to address.”

“How can a nation stand without a state religion to suppress its national fate?”

“We, the Western Buddhist Kingdom, moved by compassion, are willing to assist Your Majesty in stabilizing your nation’s fate.”

As the words were spoken, golden lotuses descended.

Two figures—one large, one small—walked slowly from the distant skies.

Wherever they passed, golden lotuses of merit formed beneath their feet.

They looked down at the Emperor, their eyes void of reverence, as if gazing upon a mere vessel carrying national fate.

“Hmph! Master, my apologies, but my nation requires no state religion to suppress its fate!”

Su Zheng’s expression turned cold.

“Oh? No need for a state religion?”

“Your Majesty, perhaps you should reconsider…”

The old monk placed his palms together.

Three great suns appeared behind him, causing heaven and earth to change color.

To a king, such might demands submission.

But Su Zheng, an emperor, did not yield.

He still stood proud, looking down on all.