So You Only Had Me Brought Here Because You Wanted to Beat Me?

When Zhu Di was brought before Zhu Yuanzhang, he kept his head lowered and his eyes downcast, shrinking timidly behind Zhu Biao without even daring to show his face.

He had no idea how he had angered his father. Starting a few days ago, Zhu Yuanzhang would summon him whenever there was nothing going on, then beat him up. There was never the slightest warning or reason—whenever he caught him, he beat him.

These past few days, Zhu Di had cowered like a quail whenever he saw Zhu Yuanzhang. He had even hidden out with his brother Zhu Biao. Whenever Zhu Yuanzhang sent someone to summon him, he would drag Zhu Biao along, hoping his brother could plead for him.

As for stopping Zhu Yuanzhang from beating people, Zhu Biao had tried, and even Empress Ma had tried. Neither had succeeded. No one even knew what Zhu Yuanzhang had said to Empress Ma, but she had gone straight from trying to stop him to standing by and watching.

And after that, the way Empress Ma looked at Zhu Di carried a hint of amusement, as well as relief.

Zhu Di could not understand the look in Empress Ma's eyes, but he knew he could no longer count on his mother. That left Zhu Biao as his only shield.

When Zhu Yuanzhang saw Zhu Di, especially that cowardly look of his, there was not the slightest trace of Emperor Yongle left in him.

Though Zhu Yuanzhang was unhappy with Zhu Di, he acknowledged Zhu Di's achievements. He was also gratified that Zhu Di had earned the title of Emperor Yongle.

But now, the mighty Emperor Yongle was acting so cowardly. Zhu Yuanzhang immediately flicked his foot, skillfully kicking his shoe into his hand, then charged at Zhu Di with the shoe in hand.

The moment Zhu Di saw Zhu Yuanzhang move, he reflexively shouted, "Big Brother, save me!"

Zhu Biao hurriedly stepped in front of Zhu Yuanzhang. "Father, what are you doing? Fourth Brother probably has not done anything wrong. Why have you kept catching him and beating him these past few days?"

"Hmph, you want a reason?" Zhu Yuanzhang snorted and looked at Zhu Di.

Zhu Di poked his head out from behind Zhu Biao, looking both agreeable and confused. "That's right, Father. Why have you kept beating only me these past few days? I haven't done anything at all."

"You stepped through this door with your left foot first today. That's reason enough." Naturally, Zhu Yuanzhang was not about to reveal the Chat Group yet. Mainly because they might not believe him even if he did.

Of course, more importantly, Zhu Yuanzhang wanted to show off in front of his children. He wanted to wait until he had gained some benefits—like learning immortal arts or obtaining something rare—before telling them.

"What kind of reason is that? Just say you want to beat me!" Zhu Di went numb when he heard Zhu Yuanzhang's excuse.

"Wasn't it because I wanted to beat you that I had someone summon you here? Otherwise, what did you think I brought you here for? To treat you to a meal?" Seeing Zhu Di's aggrieved, hopping-mad expression, Zhu Yuanzhang felt much better.

Although Zhu Di had been a very capable emperor in history, he had still usurped the throne. He had even altered the history books, claiming that Zhu Yuanzhang had passed the throne to him in the Hongwu 35th Year.

Zhu Yuanzhang had died in the Hongwu 31st Year. How was he supposed to pass the throne to Zhu Di in the Hongwu 35th Year? What, was Zhu Yuanzhang supposed to take leave from the Underworld, crawl out of his coffin, and hold a succession ceremony for him?

If he dared do that, would Zhu Di dare accept it?

And then there was the fact that, among the emperors of the Ming Dynasty, only Old Zhu himself was buried in Nanjing. Because Zhu Di moved the capital, all the other emperors were buried in Beiping.

What, did Zhu Di have a problem with Zhu Yuanzhang? Did he dislike Zhu Yuanzhang so much that he gave him his very own private imperial mausoleum suite?

Just thinking about everything Zhu Di had done gave him a splitting headache.

Zhu Di was choked by Zhu Yuanzhang's words and could not say anything for a long while.

Zhu Yuanzhang would not give up venting his frustration just because Zhu Di had fallen silent. Silence still counted as time. So, amid that silence, Zhu Di was beaten up by Zhu Yuanzhang once again.

Meanwhile, in the group, Ying Zheng found it boring when Zhu Yuanzhang did not respond. Zhu Yuanzhang had been so eager to snap back at him before, so why was he acting cowardly now? But it did not matter. From now on, Ying Zheng only needed three words to shut Zhu Yuanzhang down: killed meritorious officials.

One trick was enough to eat everywhere.

Ying Zheng stopped paying attention to Zhu Yuanzhang and instead asked Liu Bing about cultivating immortality. After reading Qin History, he had come to understand. Fusu could not be relied upon; he was too soft-hearted.

Although Ying Zheng had recently sent Fusu to train in the army, that rotten Confucian way of thinking would be hard to change. Changing it would take a long time, and perhaps he could think of another solution later.

But Ying Zheng did not have much time to spend on Fusu. He was already forty. In another ten years, he would be dead.

Even if he had not taken those pills, he probably would not live much longer. At most, another twenty or thirty years. But Great Qin's problems could not be solved in twenty or thirty years.

First, recuperating alongside the people would take up most of that time, not to mention expanding the territory and ultimately becoming ruler of the world.

All his hopes now rested on the Chat Group.

Naturally, he disdained exchanging for the Chat Group's pills. Even that Erlang of Great Tang did not think highly of them, so First Emperor Ying Zheng thought even less of them.

His future would not be limited to one world. Under his leadership, Great Qin would spread across the heavens and myriad worlds.

Since pills were beneath his notice, he had to consider cultivation methods. And for cultivation methods, Liu Bing was naturally the one to ask.

After all, Liu Bing's realm was clearly displayed as Immortal Realm.

He had never expected Liu Bing to be an Immortal. He had spent all day seeking immortals and asking after the Dao, but there was an Immortal right in the group. Why go far when what he sought was close at hand? He wondered whether Liu Bing had any cultivation methods.

[First Emperor of Great Qin]: Sir, do you have any cultivation methods there? Or any suitable recommendations?

[Liu Bing]: I do not have any cultivation methods. After all, cultivation mainly depends on whether a method suits you. My method may not suit any of you. If I run into certain people later, I will see whether they have any cultivation methods suitable for Emperors.

[First Emperor of Great Qin]: In that case, Zheng thanks you, sir.

[Emperor Wu of Han Liu Che]: Sir, I need cultivation methods too.

[Erlang of Great Tang]: +1

[Old Zhu of Great Ming]: +1

[Yang Chan]: +1

[Hong Huang Little Shrimp]: Sister Yang Chan, why are you joining in? You should have your own cultivation method, right?

[Yang Chan]: Brother Liu Bing, my cultivation method can only be practiced up to Peak Mahayana. I cannot even reach Tribulation Crossing. I want to become a true Immortal.

Yang Chan now felt that what she cultivated was fake immortality. Only what Liu Bing cultivated was true immortality.

[Hong Huang Little Shrimp]: You should think this through. If I find a cultivation method, you may have to disperse your cultivation and start over.

[Yang Chan]: I have already thought it through.

[Hong Huang Little Shrimp]: Fine. We'll talk once I find one.

Liu Bing actually had no idea what cultivation methods to give these group members. The truly good methods were all in the Primordial World. They each belonged to their own inheritances and were not easily passed on.

Although the Primordial World was harmonious, the various lineages remained clearly distinct.

As for cultivation methods from other worlds, finding one that could be practiced up to the realm of immortals in the Primordial World would probably be difficult.

But that was not something Liu Bing needed to worry about now. He would find something eventually. If all else failed, he would figure out a way to get some cultivation methods from the big shots in the Primordial World.

Like the cultivation method he practiced now—it had merely been casually created by Empress Nuwa and could be cultivated up to Golden Immortal. Beyond Golden Immortal, one had to seek one's own path.

The realms beyond Golden Immortal could not be reached through cultivation methods.

Before Golden Immortal, one was laying the foundation. After Golden Immortal, one had to build one's own high-rise. What kind of building one created depended on oneself.