"Then I'd definitely be another Marshal Li, and I'd make an even bigger spectacle of it." Yu Lian sneered. "Too many people born in the Empire are also fighting against it. Those who follow the Way have many allies; those who lose it have few."
The Emperor gazed at Yu Lian meaningfully, then revealed a benevolent smile. "You wouldn't, Yu Lian."
How could he know? Yu Lian wanted to discuss it, but the Emperor simply continued on his own. "Then I'd have the happy problem of choosing who should lead the Tirillo people forward. But fortunately, I understand that two tigers cannot share one mountain. As you know, the history of the Galactic Empire is hardly lacking in people who could stand on the same level as the owner of the Void Crown and share the future with him."
Well, wasn't this just like the virtual timeline?
"Is that what you and Brin did?" he suddenly asked.
Yu Lian smiled without answering, which made him seem confident and in control.
"Did you truly witness the essence of the Void Crown there?"
Yu Lian kept silent, but he could no longer smile. He said gravely, "Yes. That was when I began to doubt the meaning of the Void Crown."
"That was truly a mistake. I should have warned Brin beforehand, but that would have gone against the true purpose of the trial. Whatever happened, that child had to bear the consequences herself." Emperor Ilesel expressed his regret.
"More importantly, if you were born in the Empire, wouldn't that prove that the finest young people all have imperial blood? The future of humanity, the future of the universe—it would all be in the Empire's hands."
"What meaning is there in forcing such a proof?"
"I've told you! The will of civilization is