The Emperor's Art of Statecraft

The "Emperor" was indeed a genuine "Tier 5" Deity, wielding Two Authorities.

But...

From the very beginning, He never looked down on Lin Yu.

Although among the four "Player" He has brought, Lin Yu is undoubtedly the weakest on paper, and perhaps even the only one at "Tier 2"...

However, the "Emperor" still regarded Lin Yu as the greatest threat.

"Gambler Li Hua, I'm not surprised you have high hopes for the 'Director,' because although he's only at the 'Tier 2,' he does possess the means to contend with Deity and high-ranking beings."

"But... you seem to have forgotten that my greatest goal is him, how could I not understand his Supernatural Abilities?"

As the emperor spoke, he looked at Lin Yu.

"I understood from the very beginning that when dealing with a 'Director,' you absolutely cannot hold back... not even if it's Deity."

Li Hua wiped the blood from his hands with a handkerchief. Although his hands were quickly covered in blood again after he wiped them, he still wiped them again.

"Is that so... Emperor? Then why don't you just kill him?"

As Li Hua spoke, he looked in Lin Yu's direction.

The emperor did not answer Li Hua's question.

"I don't need to explain these things to you."

Li Hua stared at the emperor and said, "Haven't your goals always been to kill him? Why is it that now that you can achieve your goal, and you're worried about 'unexpected complications,' you still don't dare to kill him?"

Is it because you want something from him?

Li Hua asked, but the emperor did not respond.

But Qianhuan chimed in, "I think this guy's probably scared—hey, Emperor, you wouldn't dare kill the 'Director,' would you?"

Old Zhou immediately chimed in, "Hey, Emperor, my brother Qianhuan is asking you a question... Are you scared?"

Upon hearing their sarcasm, the emperor, a handsome young man sitting on the dragon throne, actually nodded slightly.

"You guessed right... I really don't dare to kill him right now."

The emperor spoke calmly, looking at Lin Yu: "This is the same reason why I value him and want to kill him... The reason he is more important than all of you combined is not just because of the extent of his 'Authority' and his methods."

"Or rather, the reason he was able to acquire those levels of Authority... is because he's a guy I know—he's that guy's relative, his heir."

As the emperor spoke, Li Hua finally understood.

"Oh, you mean the 'Director's' Biological Older Sister? She was a 'Player' in the Previous Version, just like you..."

Qianhuan said, "I thought you were invincible in the Previous Version because you were so powerful! But it turns out you don't even dare to kill the Director right now because of the 'Director' sister's influence... Oh, right, it seems you only thought of targeting the 'Director' because of the 'Director' sister."

The emperor snorted coldly.

"Fool, you fool... What do you think this guy has been plotting all this time? He's been trying to break the Life-and-Death Taboo Resurrection his relatives who died in the Previous Version!"

Old Zhou said unhappily, "What the hell is that any of your business? It's only natural for someone to Resurrection their own sister, isn't it? What, if your mother died and you had the chance to Resurrection, would you think she should just stay dead?"

Qianhuan then added, "Although I don't know which dynasty you are emperor of, doesn't your dynasty recommend officials based on filial piety and uphold the virtue of filial piety?"

Li Hua also said coldly, "I don't understand. On what grounds are you pretending to be upholding some kind of 'Rule'? Even if the Director broke the 'Life-and-Death Taboo,' it should be the 'God of Fairness and Judgment' who Judgment him. Have you been playing some righteous role or Deity all this time, Emperor?"

The emperor sighed, "Of course I'm not righteous either... I have selfish desires and ambitions, but in stopping him, I'm truly saving all of you fools!"

"His loved ones must never Resurrection —she is a dangerous being known as the ' Doomsday Messenger 'Ten Realms in the Previous Version, a madwoman who shattered Authority and killed Deity. Her danger is beyond your imagination; she is an incomprehensible embodiment of Calamity."

"Just the fact that she 'exists' raises the difficulty of the 'Death game' by at least three levels... not to mention that we're breaking a taboo and Resurrection her. Do you think this comes without a price?"

Qianhuan and Old Zhou remained silent, clearly not intending to pay any more attention to what the emperor might say.

But Li Hua pushed up his glasses with his blood-stained hands and spoke.

"We, the 'Order,' will assess these..."

"It's not just you who comes from the Previous Version Previous Generation experienced the Game," said "General," though Li Hua only confirmed that today myself. "We will trust the General's judgment, so there's no need for you to worry about it."

The emperor shook his head. "I don't expect you to understand, and this isn't a discussion..."

"I know you're just stalling for time—but I also need time to determine if he has any final 'contingency plans,' so I'm just sharing my thoughts with you to pass the time."

"And I don't believe that if I give you 'time,' you can stir up any trouble."

As the emperor finished speaking, Li Hua's voice rang out.

"That's not necessarily true. At least I already know... you've restricted the 'Director's' method—what you're using is the 'Perception Isolation' of the Nether Void Realm."

"You severed the 'Director's' soul, perception, and connection with the outside world, including his own body, through 'Perception Isolation'... and this is not a technique he possessed."

Li Hua shook his hand.

Behind him, the Dice began to spin again.

"Just like that Eunuch from before... This is the ability of another master from the Ten Realms that your 'Authority' has subdued—and if you want this ability to take effect, you must create it."

Li Hua spoke, the Dice behind him stopped spinning.

20. A great success.

As Li Hua spoke, he tossed out two Blood Chips.

"Qianhuan! Prepare!"

Li Hua shouted, Purple Miasma that had just been collected into the Blood Chips surged out and attacked the emperor's direction.

Before the emperor could deal with the miasma, Li Hua's other Blood Chips landed right next to Lin Yu!

That wasn't the landing point Li Hua had predicted, but rather...

The "landing point" is determined by a successful roll on the Dice.

There, after being struck by the Blood Chips, a figure dressed in a priest's robe appeared.

That was a Mermaid of the Nether Void Realm —or rather, a former member of the Tail Race!

The Tail Race's hands were placed on Lin Yu's body, emanating a continuous stream of magical power.

And what was taken away by the Blood Chips...

It's some kind of "Concealment Shield" on the Tail Race.

After the figure of the Tail Race Priest appeared in the Nether Void Realm, Li Hua spoke up again.

"Put!"

As Li Hua spoke, Qianhuan's complaints rang out.

"Don't treat me like one of your teammates and give me orders!"

However, despite this, the spotlight instantly shifted its direction and focused on the Tail Race Priest!

Fei Dao, Manacles, Torch, Piranha... all sorts of dangerous "Magic Item" suddenly appeared around the Mermaid, forcing the Tail Race Priest to react hastily.

His magical power surged forth, and an invisible stream of water blocked all the Magic Item from entering.

But...

The dangerous things Qianhuan sent over were clearly not limited to these.

The most dangerous figure appeared diagonally behind the Mermaid!

Old Zhou, brandishing his Twin Crutches, slammed them down, the lightning-covered Twin Crutches exploding like a high-voltage switch exploding due to a short circuit caused by improper operation.

At this moment...

The "sealing" spell on Lin Yu's body loosened and created a gap for a moment.

It was during this gap that...

Lin Yu, who seemed to freeze up after the "Emperor" appeared, blinked once.

The next moment...

A chilling aura emanated from Lin Yu, spreading out in sync with the sounds of flowing water and ocean waves.

Next came the sound of Notebook pages turning.

Then, golden light appeared.

The combination of Authority of Frost and Authority of Ocean will freeze the Tail Race Priest who was pushed back by Old Zhou. [Ancient Notebook] will take over his soul and mind to ensure that he will no longer be restricted by spells like "Sense Blocking". The Desire Golden Light will cover his whole body, giving him a rank and Authority comparable to Demigod Status.

Thanks, everyone...

Lin Yu looked up at the "Emperor," and a Clapperboard appeared in his hand.

Although he displayed four different methods of Authority immediately after escaping, Lin Yu knew that it was still impossible for him to use these to shake the "Emperor".

[Guest Appearance Invitation]...

When Lin Yu tried to open the Clapperboard, he felt a strong resistance!

At that moment, the emperor's disdainful voice rang out.

"I've said it before, I value you highly, Lin Yu... Do you really think I'd let you freely summon reinforcements capable of standing up to me?"

"You all think this is my Divine Kingdom, so you're in the Divine Realm now, right?"

"Because it's the 'Divine Realm,' this place is essentially outside the 'Wall of Rules,' so we can freely summon those Deity... That's what you think, right, Lin Yu?"

"But unfortunately, I won't give you that chance..."

"This is not my Divine Kingdom, but... my 'Heart Domain,' which bears the Divine Kingdom Projection."

"And my current location... is in the Prison Mountain Realm."

"Thanks to you for killing the Demon Ancestor Gantuo, I was able to enter this 'Sealed Space' that is no longer valued by the Heavenly Dao."

"This is within the seal beneath Nine Cold Mountain and Zhiyang Mountain —even without the 'Wall of Rules,' relying solely on the 'Heaven-Sealing Barrier' and the characteristics of this seal, it would be difficult for any outside Deity to enter this place."

"So, your [Guest Appearance Invitation]... won't summon any Deity."