My son has the makings of a Human Emperor

Chaoge City.

Deep within the royal palace, inside the sleeping quarters.

The flickering candlelight cast long, Distortion System shadows throughout the hall.

The curtains hung low, shutting out all the light.

Di Yi lay on the large bed.

That once majestic face is now withered and emaciated, its deep wrinkles filled with weariness and resentment.

His aptitude was too poor, and his Martial Path cultivation ultimately failed to surpass the Immortal Realm.

The Immortal Realm was too far away, so far that even after exhausting his entire life's energy, he still couldn't reach its edge.

At this moment, Di Yi was on his deathbed, his life hanging by a thread, like a candle flickering in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment.

He looked at Zi Shou, who was standing by the bedside. His once turbid eyes, which had looked down upon the world, now shone with an unusual light.

"Zi Shou."

Di Yi raised his hand with difficulty, his withered fingers making two grasping motions in the air.

Zi Shou grasped his father's cold hand firmly, his eyes slightly red, but his voice remained steady.

"Father, your son is here."

"Today, I hand over the Great Shang Dynasty dynasty to you."

"From this day forward, the fate of this Nine Provinces, and its hundreds of millions of people, rests entirely on your shoulders."

"Don't... let me down."

This statement carries extremely weight.

Every word seemed to have been uttered with all his might.

Zi Shou a sudden weight on his shoulders.

That was not just a word of instruction, but the lives and fortunes of hundreds of millions of people, and the immense burden of this the King.

He took a deep breath, nodded heavily, and his voice was firm and powerful.

"Father, rest assured!"

"Your subject will certainly strive to govern diligently, pacify the barbarian tribes, suppress Four Barbarians rebellious, protect the Great Shang Dynasty dynasty, and bless our Human Clan."

"I will make the Great Shang Dynasty shine brightly under my leadership."

"More glorious than all previous kings, more glorious than ever before!"

This is a promise, and also an ambition.

Zi Shou never concealed his ambition.

From a young age, he displayed extraordinary talent and intelligence in cultivation, and he had a keen understanding of the deep-seated problems of the Great Shang Dynasty.

Given time, he is confident that he can pacify the Four Barbarians and restore order to the court.

Di Yi's cloudy eyes flickered, staring intently at Zi Shou, a sickly flush appearing on his withered cheeks.

"I trust you."

"My Zi Shou the qualities of Human Emperor."

Di Yi's voice suddenly rose a few decibels, carrying an almost fanatical expectation.

"You will surely become Human Emperor like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, leading the Great Shang Dynasty and the entire Human Clan to prosperity."

After he finished speaking, the hall fell into a brief, deathly silence.

A hint of surprise flashed across Zi Shou's originally resolute face.

He lowered his head slightly and did not reply immediately.

He wondered if he had misheard, or if his father was delirious due to his serious illness.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?

What kind of being is that?

That is the faith of the Human Clan, a myth standing at the end of the long river of the Human Clan history! An insurmountable monument!

Heavenly Emperor Fuxi developed the Eight Trigrams and established human relations.

Shennong, the Earthly Emperor, tasted hundreds of herbs and cultivated the Five Grains.

The Human Emperor Xuanyuan quelled the war and bestowed upon the Immortal Scripture.

The Rule of the Five Emperors, divided it into Nine Provinces, and made unparalleled contributions to the Human Clan.

Each of them is a sage whose Merit and who will be praised for all eternity.

He was confident in himself and believed he could become a qualified, or even an outstanding, King of Shang.

It can make the Shang Kingdom prosperous and powerful, and it can make all the barbarians from all directions submit to it.

But can it be compared to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?

He admitted he couldn't do it!

In ancient times, the Human Clan was small and insignificant. It was an era of pioneering and progress, and every Human Emperor was born in response to this need.

The Human Clan has now established its dominance over the Nine Provinces, and the overall situation is settled.

Even if he does his best, how good can he really be?

Comparable to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors...

It was just a dream.

It was a fantasy that my father had before his death, fueled by his unwillingness to accept his fate.

Di Yi kept a close eye on Zi Shou's expression.

There is no better son than a father.

Zi Shou's momentary silence and hesitation did not escape his notice.

"How?"

"Scared?"

Do you think I'm talking nonsense or daydreaming?

Zi Shou raised his head, looked directly into Di Yi's eyes, and did not hide his thoughts.

In his father's final moments, he did not want to deceive with falsehoods.

"Your subject dares not."

"But... what kind of figures were the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors?"

"They led Human Clan through countless hardships and spent endless years carving a bloody path through the Ten Thousand Races of the Primordial Wilderness."

"To secure this place for the Human Clan and establish the foundation of this land Nine Provinces."

"Your subject believes he is capable of being a wise and benevolent ruler, expanding the territory, protecting the land, and ensuring the well-being of the people."

"But if we're talking about... becoming a figure like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors..."

He paused, then spoke frankly.

"Your subject has absolutely no confidence."

This is the Zi Shou.

He disdained lying, not even to his dying father.

If you can't do it, you can't do it. Making false claims and deceiving others is not the behavior of a true king.

If one were to make boastful claims at this point, that would truly be a sign of ignorance and arrogance.

We must make great contributions to the Human Clan and accumulate great Merit.

How could one be revered as "comparable to the Three Sovereigns" in this Primordial World where Saint reside high in the heavens and immortals and Buddhas roam the earth?

It's too difficult.

There is absolutely no hope in sight.

Upon hearing this, Di Yi was not disappointed at all; instead, his smile deepened.

That's right.

If Zi Shou readily agree to that, that would be truly arrogant and ignorant.

Having this self-awareness and maintaining reverence for the Forefathers are qualities that a qualified ruler should possess.

but.

Reverence is acceptable, but self-deprecation is not.

"My son, do not underestimate yourself."

"I am not speaking in my dying moments, nor am I expressing blind hope in you."

"But... there's a reason."

Zi Shou suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with deep confusion.

reason?

What could possibly cause my father to have such a misconception?

Is it because of my exceptional talent?

Or is it because he is adept at handling government affairs?

However, all these reasons seem too weak in the face of the phrase "Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors".

Zi Shou couldn't help but ask.

What do you mean by that, Father?

Di Yi suddenly struggled to sit up.

"Father!" The Zi Shou greatly alarmed and quickly reached out to help him up.

"It's alright!"

Di Yi waved his hand to push Zi Shou, leaned back on the soft pillow, and in that instant, a kingly aura suddenly burst forth from his body.

He looked intently at Zi Shou and asked.

"Zi Shou."

Do you know why I've kept you by my side since you were little, never letting you out of my sight?

Even if some in the court criticize me, I will insist on personally instructing you, so that you will never leave my side.

"Even your mother needs my permission to see you?"

This is also what has always puzzled him.

This was a question that had lingered in his heart for many years.

He was the eldest son, and it was only natural that he would inherit the throne.

It is perfectly understandable to accept one's father's teachings.

But the King's training started too early, and was even a bit... too intense.

From the time he could remember, everything in his life, whether it was his civil and military achievements or his conduct in society, was recorded.

Almost everything was arranged and personally taught by the father.

Even his mother rarely interfered in his education.