I Am King Zhou, Human Emperor!

"To prove the Dao and become an Emperor—right now!"

A single roar shattered the balance. A new Primordial Spirit was conceived, and the Five Great Secret Realms merged into perfect unity.

At this critical moment, he had finally weathered the most arduous trial and taken that decisive step forward.

Proving the Dao and becoming an Emperor!

Both flesh and Primordial Spirit were now utterly complete. From this point on, he was unmatched in the world, standing at the pinnacle of the Human Dao Domain.

The moment he proved the Dao and became an Emperor, the boundless thunder sensed it as well. The endless sea of lightning slowly receded.

Nine towering, heaven-supporting figures also began to fade, yet in the instant of their dissolution, they seemed to nod toward him.

A glimmer of understanding dawned on him. This felt like a legacy—a transmission between the Human Emperors of old.

Suddenly, raging flames erupted around him. A Phoenix, bathed in black fire, spread its wings and cried out!

That time when Su Daji had seduced him, and his soul had drifted outside his body, the same scene had appeared.

This was the Human Path Luck coalesced upon him. Now that he had proven the Dao and become an Emperor, it had taken the initiative to manifest.

"To prove the Dao and become an Emperor, one must merge with the Heavenly Heart Imprint to establish one's own Dao—but in this world, that's impossible!

Since I can't merge with the Heavenly Heart Imprint, I've merged with the Human Path Luck instead? Then what I wield—could it be the Human Dao Will?"

What was the Heavenly Heart Imprint?

Simply put, the Heavenly Heart Imprint was the Heavenly Dao of a world, representing its laws and rules.

In the current world, the Heavenly Dao naturally existed, but the Dao Ancestor Hongjun had already merged his being with it.

Moreover, with his current strength, wanting to merge with the Heavenly Dao? Don't even think about it!

Still, as the Human Sovereign, it was only right for him to gather the Human Path Luck and wield the Human Dao Will.

"Fortunately, I crossed my tribulation within the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors. Otherwise, it would have drawn the attention of countless people!"

The scene of the boundless sea of lightning was far too vast. If he had crossed his tribulation in the harem, he would have been discovered immediately.

At that point, the fact that he was cultivating would have become public knowledge—and that was not what he wanted.

Originally, cultivating was just cultivating. But Grand Tutor Wen's words from before had made him hesitate.

Even if the Human Sovereign cultivated to the utmost, he still only had a hundred years of lifespan. What secret lay hidden behind this?

Thankfully, the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors had concealed everything for him, saving him a great deal of trouble.

"Now that I've broken through, there's no need to wait any longer for certain matters."

When he faced Yun Zhongzi, he had been so forceful, not even bothering to pretend—and this was the reason.

After all, once he fully launched his plan, any pretense would be utterly useless.

Moreover, the Investiture of the Gods was already set in motion. Whether he pretended or not, what was meant to happen would still happen.

He might as well be forceful to the very end. In these twenty years, he would do everything in his power to fight with all he had.

Even if he ultimately failed, at least after he died, his mouth would still be hard.

The next morning at court, before the assembled ministers could even present their petitions, he raised his hand and stood up first.

Attendants delivered sheets of paper into each minister's hands. This was largely thanks to Bi Gan.

Through Bi Gan's efforts, both papermaking and Movable Type Printing had already been rolled out.

At the very least, within Chaoge City, paper was no longer a rare commodity.

Gazing at the assembled ministers, Zi Shou declared in a clear voice, "This Lonely One has drawn up a Three-Year Development Plan. Take a look first."

The great hall fell silent. The ministers all focused their attention, picking up the paper in their hands and beginning to read.

Occasionally, someone let out an exclamation of surprise, but after that, they immediately resumed reading, not even pausing to discuss among themselves.

Zi Shou's expression remained blank. The Three-Year Development Plan he had drafted contained no small amount of content—enough to keep these ministers digesting it for a while.

After some time, some ministers finished reading and looked up at the King, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Finally, someone could no longer hold back. He stepped forward to offer counsel—it was Prime Minister Shang Rong.

"I beg to report to the King, Your Majesty. While this Three-Year Plan has many merits, it also contains a number of radical measures!

If implemented according to this plan, I fear it will bring endless calamity in the future. I implore Your Majesty to think thrice before acting!" Shang Rong said.

His words were sincere and earnest, causing many ministers to nod inwardly. They shared the same thoughts.

Yet some ministers remained deep in contemplation—Assistant Minister Bi Gan, for instance, seemed to be weighing the pros and cons.

"The radical measures you speak of—which ones do you mean?" Zi Shou asked, his expression unchanged.

From Taibai Jinxing, and then from Yun Zhongzi, Shang Rong's stance had already become clear.

When he distributed the Three-Year Development Plan, Shang Rong being the first to jump out in opposition—he truly felt no surprise at all.

Moreover, he was well aware of just how bold this Three-Year Development Plan was for this era.

Let alone Shang Rong—most of the ministers in court would likely be unable to accept it and would oppose him just the same.

"Your Majesty's plan to vigorously develop agriculture is naturally a good thing. But measures such as abolishing slavery are highly improper!"

"If the King insists on this course, not only will the feudal lords across the realm rise in rebellion, but how can our Great Shang remain stable?" Shang Rong said.

As soon as these words were spoken, the assembled ministers chimed in one after another. The danger in this was not hard to grasp.

Everyone knew that slaves were also human. If the slave system could be abolished, Great Shang would immediately gain a vast labor force.

But slaves belonged to the nobility, and the feudal lords were the greatest slave owners of all. Would they willingly agree to abolish the slave system?

There was no need to think twice—once this news spread, the feudal lords across the realm would surely rebel.

With internal strife and external pressure, even a nationwide upheaval would be the least of their worries. Great Shang would likely face the risk of ruin.

"You speak well, but This Lonely One's mind is made up. You need not say more, Minister!" Zi Shou said in a low voice.

He had long anticipated this scene. He did not wish to explain further, and some things could not be explained clearly anyway.

Since he had formulated the Three-Year Development Plan, no matter how much the ministers opposed it, it had to be carried out.

"If the King insists on going his own way, I fear the realm will fall into chaos!" Shang Rong said, his face full of worry.

He found the current King increasingly unfathomable, and even felt a hint of fear toward him.

But the King's Three-Year Development Plan was simply too extreme. Besides abolishing the slave system, it also forbade the common people from worshipping the Deities.

Not worshipping the Deities, only venerating the sages of humanity—this was an outright defiance of the world's conventions!

Moreover, from now on, within Great Shang's borders, the Deities and mortals alike would have to obey Great Shang's laws?

This was nothing short of a fantasy. How could he watch the King stray further down the wrong path?

"Grand Tutor, what do you think of this Three-Year Development Plan?" Zi Shou asked.

His patience with Shang Rong was nearing its limit. If Shang Rong still refused to see reason, he would have no one to blame but himself.

At this moment, the ministers suddenly remembered that Grand Tutor Wen had not spoken a word. They wondered what he thought.

"Since the King wishes to do it, then let it be done! With this old minister here, the realm will not fall into chaos!" Grand Tutor Wen said, sweeping his gaze across the hall.

As soon as he spoke, the entire hall fell silent. Everyone stared at Grand Tutor Wen in astonishment.

No one had expected Grand Tutor Wen to support the King's Three-Year Development Plan. Could it be that he did not see the danger?

But this was Grand Tutor Wen! A veteran minister of three reigns, with towering prestige. If he agreed, who would dare to oppose?

"Your Majesty, I also approve of the Three-Year Development Plan!" Assistant Minister Bi Gan declared in a clear voice.

With both Bi Gan and Grand Tutor Wen expressing their support, the remaining ministers found themselves isolated. Their gazes involuntarily converged on Shang Rong.

Shang Rong was about to say something, but suddenly caught the King's gaze. Cold sweat poured down his back, and he dared not speak another word.

He was truly afraid. In the King's eyes, he had clearly seen a chilling gleam—the light of murderous intent.

He had no doubt that if he dared to oppose again, the King would have him executed on the spot.

And without Shang Rong, the other ministers were nothing but scattered sand, unable to stir up any trouble.

"Excellent! The Three-Year Development Plan will be fully overseen by Bi Gan. Grand Tutor will command the army. This Lonely One would like to see who dares to rebel!" Zi Shou declared in a ringing voice.

Grand Tutor Wen had naturally agreed. As early as yesterday, after his own breakthrough in cultivation, Zi Shou had summoned Grand Tutor Wen to the palace.

Besides Grand Tutor Wen, Assistant Minister Bi Gan was also there. He had explained the Three-Year Development Plan to them in detail.

There were dangers, and it was indeed radical, but the benefits outweighed the risks. In the end, he had convinced both Grand Tutor Wen and Bi Gan.

After the court session ended, Zi Shou walked with light steps, eager to return to his bedchamber.

He did not have to "coincidentally" run into Su Daji, which saved him quite a bit of time.

As soon as he returned to his bedchamber, he immediately entered the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors.

He had already sensed that the Luck Torch was undergoing drastic changes!