Chapter 578: Unfathomable Heavenly Might

An Zugan looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a tall, robust man in a dragon robe standing emotionlessly at a desk nearby, looking at him.

This man was clearly the Emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Clothes and adornments could be faked, but no one else could feign that kind of imposing aura.

He had previously asked Chu Chuyan and learned that the Great Zhou Emperor's name was Zhao Hao, truly a formidable individual. An Zugan had initially wanted to see if this strongest man in the world had three heads and six arms, but after their eyes met, all he remembered was those sharp, penetrating eyes.

He didn't know how to describe those eyes. He had met emperors before, but the one in the Yaoguang Secret Realm was merely a wisp of the First Emperor's remnant soul. Moreover, An Zugan had already passed the trial, so the emperor had treated him as one of his own, without directing his full might towards him. The same was true for Wu Geng in the Yin Ruins later. Wu Geng had been tormented by the regret of having brought about the downfall of the Shang Dynasty by inviting a "wolf into the house." Additionally, during that trial, he had disguised himself as an ordinary crown prince, intentionally concealing his aura, so An Zugan hadn't felt much pressure.

This person, however, was different. His eyes seemed to pierce straight through to one's heart, instantly scrutinizing you inside and out. An Zugan knew this was a psychological illusion, but he instinctively avoided direct eye contact.

Then he noticed the dragon robe and the brush in the Emperor's hand, which indicated he had just been writing. An Zugan couldn't help but inwardly complain, "Why do all these important figures love writing calligraphy to enhance their prestige?"

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

An Zugan was startled. *He can even tell I'm daydreaming? Does this guy have telepathy?*

Nevertheless, he replied, "I can't help it. Having risen from the lowest ranks, where life is as thin as paper, one naturally develops an indomitable spirit."

"You are like this even when facing me; no wonder you behaved that way towards the Crown Prince." The Emperor put down his brush. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen the characters "Long Life" written on the white paper on the desk, followed by a few small dots, clearly indicating that even as he wrote, his heart was filled with hesitation and uncertainty. Naturally, as an Emperor, he would never show any of this to others.

An Zugan was surprised. "So Your Majesty already knows." *How long had it been since he'd parted ways with the Crown Prince? And the Emperor already knew?*

As if sensing his thoughts, the Emperor slowly said, "Of course I know. It would be quite difficult to hide anything that happens in this palace from me."

An Zugan remained silent, unsure of the purpose of this conversation. He was currently preoccupied with how to put that hat on the Emperor. One of his original plans was to use instant teleportation to appear next to him and quickly place the hat on his head. If he succeeded, the subsequent problems should be manageable.

However, the moment they met, he completely abandoned that idea. Although the Emperor stood there casually, seemingly only a few yards away, An Zugan felt as if an entire world separated them. His own aura couldn't even detect the Emperor's precise location. It was clear that with the Emperor's cultivation level, An Zugan would have no chance of getting close to him unless the Emperor allowed it.

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

An Zugan: "???"

*Big brother, why aren't you playing by the rules? You're playing a trump card right from the start! How am I supposed to counter that?*

Soon, guards rushed in like wolves. An Zugan was about to dodge, but the Emperor merely gave him a faint glance, and he felt as if his entire body was restrained, unable to move even an inch. In that instant, he was seized by the guards, his hands cuffed, and dragged outside.

An Zugan shouted, "You kill me on such a fabricated charge? I refuse to accept this!"

The Emperor coldly stated, "Throughout my life, when have I ever needed your acceptance for my actions?"

An Zugan: "..."

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

As the guards dragged him out, 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 casual wave of his hand, the white paper instantly disintegrated into dust, yet the desk remained completely unharmed. This demonstrated his exquisite control over his power.

"The notion of eternal life is illusory and vague. Emperors throughout history have pursued it one after another, yet who has truly attained it? I do not believe in such fleeting immortality. On the contrary, in my lifetime, I led humanity to decisively defeat the demon race and unify the Eight Wastes and Six Combinations. Even ten thousand years from now, my great achievements will be sung throughout the world. *That* is true eternal life." The Emperor's previously impassive expression finally changed, revealing an inexplicable fervor.

An Zugan silently swore under his breath at this moment. *If you have no desire for eternal life, then why did you send people to search for the "Phoenix Nirvana Sutra"? And why did you specifically send people to capture me?*

At this critical moment, his mind raced. He quickly said, "But ten thousand years from now, your great achievements may not necessarily be sung throughout the world. In fact, even a few hundred years from now, no one might remember you."

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

Rage value from Zhao Hao: 999!

An immense aura radiated outwards, pressing down on the two guards who were holding An Zugan, forcing them to quickly kneel and beg for forgiveness. Although An Zugan was also greatly affected by this oppressive aura, he breathed a sigh of relief. *Finally, I've received this guy's rage value. So, he's just a man, not a god.*

He naturally wouldn't waste the opportunity, lest he lose the chance to speak later. "What I have to say cannot be heard by a third party."

The Emperor gave him a cold glance, then casually waved his hand, dismissing the two guards. With his cultivation level, he naturally wasn't worried about An Zugan causing any major trouble.

After the guards left, the Emperor spoke, "You may speak now. If you dare to toy with me, heh heh..." The threat was palpable.

An Zugan had already sorted out his thoughts in the brief interim. Hearing the Emperor, he replied, "Your Majesty's idea is not flawed. For your achievements to be sung throughout the world ten thousand years from now, that kind of eternal life is far more meaningful than someone living in obscurity in a remote mountain forest. However, it may not come to pass as you wish. For your deeds to be passed down for ten thousand years, they must be truthfully recorded by historians. But if there's a dynastic change, slandering the previous dynasty is a common tactic. Even without a change in dynasty, if someone who opposes Your Majesty ascends the throne, they could falsify 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 swallowed by the river of history, unknown to future generations, and Your Majesty would naturally not achieve eternal life."

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

An Zugan smiled faintly. "Your Majesty knows perfectly well, so why pretend otherwise?"

*Sorry, Prince Qi, I can only drag you out to be my shield. Better you than me.*

The Emperor fell into contemplation. If anyone had dared to speak to him in such a tone on an ordinary day, he would have had them dragged out and beaten to death long ago. But An Zugan's words had indeed struck a chord deep within him; this was precisely what he had been most concerned and worried about for years.

He looked at An Zugan, a hint of amusement in his expression. "Then what brilliant plan do you propose?"

An Zugan was about to speak when he suddenly noticed the Emperor's gaze. His heart stirred. *Your Majesty must already have a plan. Why should I make a fool of myself? Since Your Majesty wishes to play chess, I suppose I can be a pawn.*

He had indeed been a little scared before, but now he had realized. The Emperor had gone to such great lengths to bring him to the capital; there was no way he would have him killed the moment they met. The reason for this entire spectacle was likely to first establish dominance and humble him.

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