Three Ultimate Questions

Zhu Zhengwei followed his gaze. "This is the true Human Emperor of an era. All the kings and emperors throughout history are far inferior to you."

"Yes, I think so too." The old man turned around, beaming brightly.

With that, the surroundings fell silent.

The two resumed their tea, savoring the tranquil stillness of this sunset dusk.

"What a brilliant line! That one sentence just elevated everything!"

"What does it mean? This line: setting an example by accepting one's own death, the most lamentable thing of all? I only feel the sheer gravitas."

"You illiterate fool who never reads history! Throughout human history, most valiant emperors, in their twilight years, feared death, sought immortality, concocted elixirs, neglected state affairs, and committed all sorts of absurdities, tarnishing their late reputations. This Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng before us wants to set an example for future Human Emperors, so they won't stray onto those crooked paths."

Upon hearing this, the crowd suddenly understood.

As the first Human Emperor in the history of civilization, he must become a model for all future "humans." He must live out the entirety of a human life—birth, aging, sickness, death—and honestly accept his own demise in old age, rather than seeking other "Evil Methods" like "Qi Consumption" to prolong his life, committing atrocities to survive, or becoming a tyrant plunging the world into chaos. This tells those who come after: this is the integrity a Human Emperor ought to have!

And is this really just a game?

If it's only a game, that's already incredible!

It perfectly portrays each character's personality and schemes from their own standpoint, vividly and thoroughly.

One must admit, every word from this awe-inspiring sage emperor's dialogue and monologue is enough to shake the soul.

The entire scene and atmosphere make one feel, in a daze, as if truly facing the rolling "Torrent of History," the lamentable sighs of great men and masters of the age on their deathbeds.

What kind of great man is this?

It's enough to inspire longing and admiration.

A plant swayed its branches.

"I've got goosebumps all over. Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng—everything he's done for humanity brings tears to my eyes. He's a true human hero with integrity! He chooses a short life, completely unlike the previous Stone Light Emperor Changshou, that coward who clung to life!"

"Is this charisma, this sense of dominance really just acting? Before my eyes, he seems like a real person—domineering, ruthless, yet loving to show off his kingdom before the gods with smug pride."

"Gathering slaves, building great walls to fend off barbarians! Forging the sage's canon to usher in an era of peace for future generations! This reminds me of an 'Eternal Emperor' from our own China."

"My blood is boiling!"

"The rolling 'Torrent of History'—how many heroes have been swept away by the waves!"

Their own blood felt like it was about to ignite.

It felt as if history was reenacting itself—a brand-new, history-laden human epic myth. The most beautiful thing in this "Mortal World" is nothing more than the epic of civilization written in human blood and tears.

"Shh!"

"Don't make a sound. This is a scenic game. Let's listen to the wind, watch the sunset, and witness the curtain fall on a great king of an era."

Someone said.

Silence fell at once.

"Immortal Herbs" bloomed in wisps of multicolored twilight glow, swaying in the distance, serving as a beautiful backdrop to the two figures drinking tea in the "Tea Shed."

After a long while, Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng spoke again:

"To be honest, by now, I have laid the foundation for the world's civilization and done everything I could. I die without regret. But after much thought, there is still one thing that weighs on my mind."

"What is it?"

"The 'All Living Beings Scripture' I forged—though the world calls it perfect, encompassing the general principles of all species and worthy of being called a 'Daoist Canon'—I know it still has one flaw. This book is incomplete, and I wish to fill that gap before my death."

As these words fell, not only did Zhu Zhengwei grasp his meaning, but some sharp-minded "Immortal Herbs" also caught on.

This classic's general outline introduces the categories of all things in the world.

Those who consume water, those who consume earth, those who consume wood, those who consume grass, those who consume flesh. The "Qi Consumer," the "Year Consumer"—it encompasses all natural kinds, yet one category is missing.

God!

What does God consume?

The general outline describes all species, but the "God" category alone is absent, not recorded in the canon. No wonder he had to ask.

At this thought, some were already exclaiming "Holy crap," their admiration for this terrifying sage growing even deeper.

"As expected of you, Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng. To perfect your sage's work, you're directly asking what species God is, so you can include it in the canon!"

"That's absolutely brilliant!"

"It seems that earlier request for the god to descend was because he got stuck writing his book. He wanted the god to come down and enlighten him so he could keep writing!"

"He wants to make one last attempt for humanity, so he longs to see the immortal, everlasting god."

The surrounding "Immortal Herbs" whispered again, uttering some unspeakable, eldritch murmurs, while Zhu Zhengwei watched this emperor.

What does God eat?

What kind of being is God?

How would I know?

This world has only just begun. It was only with your foundation that the Shaman Zhu Era formally started. But there is no true super-being that can be called a "god" yet—everything is still in its infancy. You've only just taken your first steps.

I am the "Creation God," but I am clearly not of that category, because in a certain sense, I am a mere mortal.

Clearly, he could not answer this question.

Zhu Zhengwei asked, "Is this your question?"

"This is merely the first question."

The Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng was utterly calm and composed. "I have three questions in total, which I wish to pose to the God on behalf of this brief and weak human race."

Three?

Zhu Zhengwei felt a bit dazed inside.

Meanwhile, the Immortal Herbs began discussing among themselves.

"This plot segment is simply too brilliant—it's fate unfolding as it should! If such a history truly existed, and God really did exist, mortals would inevitably find a way to seek Him out and seize the chance to ask Him questions."

"Brilliant? What fate?" someone asked, puzzled. "What do you understand now?"

"You don't get it—I study history and theology! In the five thousand years of Earth's human history, people have always harbored all kinds of unknowns and confusions about nature, living in fear. Eventually, they projected this unease and terror of the unknown onto a nonexistent 'God.'"

"Thus, people built temples and altars to worship 'God,' praying for His protection, His answers, and longing for 'God's love for mankind.' That is the original root of humanity's feudal superstitions."

"As you all know, on a small scale, people prayed for their children's exam safety, for a male child, for a safe journey the next day; on a grand scale, emperors of nations knelt before God, begging for droughts to vanish and floods to recede—all kinds of extravagant, labor-wasting, useless rituals."

"In the five-thousand-year history of Earth's feudal civilizations, when no true God had ever appeared, people in both East and West were obsessed with kneeling before idols and asking God all sorts of questions. And now, when a real God stands before them?"

The crowd suddenly understood.

They only felt that there was indeed a sense of destiny in this.

Zhu Zhengwei sat drinking tea, listening to the distant whispers, his heart growing calm. He hadn't expected these players to include so many learned individuals with such a strong grasp of history, even uncovering this pattern. Pooling wisdom was indeed useful.

Zhu Zhengwei couldn't help but stir his thoughts and said, "So it's about yearning for God's answers again? Throughout the long history of past and future, this creature called humanity always hopes to receive divine enlightenment, placing their faith in an unattainable belief. That is the original origin of humanity's superstition in 'God.'"

The Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng's heart trembled, as if he too grasped the meaning of these words and the inevitable historical pattern within them.

He exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how it is! As expected of a God. In past ages, mortals must have often prayed to God—this is historical inevitability. I am neither the first nor the last."

Zhu Zhengwei paid it no mind. "Ask your questions."

The Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng spoke directly: "First question, on Qi Consumption and the soul. I have forged the All Living Beings Scripture, covering all things under heaven, yet it lacks the category of 'God.' I dare ask: what kind of being is God, and what is His lifespan? What does God consume? I hope to record it in the canon for the world to revere."

"Second question, on the flesh and blood body. Qi does not permeate the whole body. The path we study—Qi threading through the flesh-and-blood vessel—is it the correct one? Can the extreme of flesh and blood lead to immortality? Does it have a future?"

"Third question, on the world under heaven. I built the Wall of Ten Thousand Stones to resist the External Enemy, and established various governance systems to manage internal affairs. After I die, will my realm be passed down through generations, and will humanity prosper forever? If it prospers, at its peak, can it reach the age of the old Gods?"

Zhu Zhengwei suddenly froze.

These three questions.

They seemed familiar.

He had seen them before when researching dream-related materials.

Of course, many of the Immortal Herbs also caught on.

"These three questions are profound. Personally, I think they represent a certain inevitable stage in humanity's exploration of the world, and they also relate to three major works from modern Earth."

"What do you mean? Someone with an Academic Master degree, explain!"

"The Interpretation of Dreams is a book that, alongside Darwin's On the Origin of Species and Copernicus's On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres, is listed as one of the three works that sparked humanity's intellectual revolution, symbolizing the first step into modern society."

"These three can be seen, from certain angles, as humanity beginning to explore the three great directions of the world: the soul, the flesh, and the environment."

"And now, the Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng has asked three questions: the first is about the All Living Beings Scripture, a masterpiece of spirit and soul; the second is about the body and flesh; the third is about the exploration of the external world."

Everyone was stunned.

This human emperor of a feudal civilization had directly asked the three great questions that Earth's humanity had explored during the intellectual revolution from the Renaissance to the late nineteenth century.

"The Stone Light Emperor Zhizheng dares to ask the old God such things! Isn't he afraid of death? But I feel this dialogue—question and answer—is absolutely brilliant. I've got goosebumps all over!"

"This game's depth is unimaginable! It's as if it depicts real historical beings—scientists, seekers—constantly exploring the world! And now, humanity is asking God about the three ultimate topics they've always pursued: consciousness and soul, flesh and body, and the external environment!"

"This isn't a game!!! I feel like I'm witnessing a dialogue between a true human emperor and a true God from another dimension!"

"The depth is insane. If the answers are good, it'll be a masterpiece, maybe even shedding light on some modern human doubts."

"Absolutely epic!"

"The dialogue between the God above and the tyrant below! In this moment, I feel the joys and sorrows of the world, the continuation of civilization, writing the song of history with elephant blood and human tears!"

Everyone couldn't help but discuss it—it was too astonishing.

"I have my own insights on these three questions. I want to try answering them—see how it sounds. Maybe it'll match the God's response."

"Stop! What's the point of you jumping in? Everyone, quiet down—let's see how the God answers."