I Am King Zhou, the Human Emperor!

Was the Nine-tailed Fox about to enter the palace? Should he allow it or not?

Waiting online. Urgent!

The question of whether to let the Nine-tailed Fox enter the palace was not something he could choose at all.

This was the consequence he had to bear for angering Nuwa Saint. Whether he wanted it or not did not matter.

Even if he refused to let Daji enter the palace, with the Nine-tailed Fox's methods, she would likely still find a way to slip inside.

Then the enemy would be hidden while he stood exposed, leaving him impossible to guard against.

But now, he knew Daji was the Nine-tailed Fox, while the Nine-tailed Fox did not know that he knew.

The enemy was exposed while he remained hidden. This was an opportunity!

"Your Majesty, why not summon Su Hu's daughter, Daji, to court? If her appearance is outstanding and her bearing demure, Your Majesty may pardon Su Hu's crime.

"If she fails to please Your Majesty, then execute Su Hu to properly punish his crime. That way, Your Majesty will not break faith with the realm!"

Zi Shou looked closely and learned from the memories in his mind that the minister who had just spoken was named Fei Zhong.

Who was Fei Zhong? He was a notoriously treacherous minister at court!

Upon hearing Fei Zhong's words, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He had been worrying over how to proceed, yet Fei Zhong had stepped forward of his own accord.

But another minister rushed to step forward first and loudly said, "Your Majesty, Minister Fei speaks most wisely. I beg Your Majesty to follow his advice!"

Zi Shou took a careful look. Good heavens, it was another infamous treacherous minister—You Hun.

Some ministers could no longer suppress the fury in their hearts and wanted to step out to refute them.

At this time, the court was not yet ruled by treacherous ministers. There were still quite a few loyal officials.

Fei Zhong and You Hun were clearly currying favor with the King, and many ministers could see the flaws in their proposal.

Su Hu had rebelled against Great Shang because he was dissatisfied with the King's tyranny, but rebellion was rebellion. Could offering up his daughter erase his crime?

Furthermore, Fei Zhong and You Hun were saying that it all depended on whether Daji was beautiful.

If she was beautiful, she was innocent; if she was not, Su Hu would be killed. Would that not make the King a lecher?

Just as some ministers were about to object, Zi Shou rose to his feet and pressed a large hand downward.

"Very good! Your proposal is excellent. Men, drag these two away and execute them!"

Zi Shou's face was full of smiles. He had been thinking about how to change the current situation, and Fei Zhong and You Hun had voluntarily stepped forward.

What was this?

It was like someone delivering a pillow just as he felt sleepy!

If he wanted to turn the current situation around, he first had to change the image of himself as a foolish tyrant.

What could do that better than executing treacherous ministers?

But the moment he said this, everyone froze. The previously clamorous court instantly fell silent.

Whether it was Fei Zhong and You Hun or the other ministers, all wore looks of utter shock.

What had the King just said?

Drag Fei Zhong and You Hun away and execute them?

Had the King not always favored and trusted Fei Zhong and You Hun?

Had the King not inscribed obscene, lustful verses in Nüwa Temple? Should he not have been very interested in beautiful women?

Why was he suddenly ordering Fei Zhong and You Hun dragged away for execution?

Had the King lost his mind?

"What? Did you not hear me? Must I repeat myself?" Zi Shou roared.

As soon as he spoke, guards immediately stepped forward and dragged Fei Zhong and You Hun out of the court.

"Your Majesty, I have been wronged! What did I do wrong for Your Majesty to kill me?"

Fei Zhong and You Hun were completely dumbfounded, unable to understand what was happening.

Only when the guards dragged them away did they snap awake as if from a dream and begin wailing at once.

But no matter how they wailed, all they saw was the King's icy gaze.

Soon, Fei Zhong and You Hun were dragged away. After two shrill screams, everything returned to silence.

The court remained deathly quiet. Shock still lingered on every minister's face, and all lowered their heads and eyes.

"Your Majesty's execution of the two treacherous ministers, Fei Zhong and You Hun, is truly a blessing for Great Shang!"

After a moment, one minister finally stepped forward and spoke with delight on his face.

Zi Shou looked over and saw that this minister was Shang Rong, the current Prime Minister of Great Shang, a man of immense authority.

"Su Hu rebelled against Great Shang and should have been condemned beyond pardon. But considering that he voluntarily pleaded guilty, his death sentence may be spared, though he cannot escape punishment!"

He looked over the ministers, noting the shock on many faces, then continued, "My lords, do you have any good suggestions?"

Su Hu's rebellion against Great Shang was ultimately the fault of his predecessor. Faced with a foolish and tyrannical King, Su Hu had been forced to rebel.

But this was Great Shang's realm. Under all Heaven, was there any land that did not belong to the King? Could rebellion truly be let off so easily?

"Your Majesty, Su Hu rebelled against Great Shang and should be punished according to the law. However, Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, submitted a memorial the other day, asking that Su Hu send his daughter to atone for his crime and preserve the righteousness between ruler and subject.

"Now that Su Hu has obeyed the royal law and sent his daughter to court to redeem his crime, his circumstances are understandable. It would be better to pardon him!" Shang Rong stepped forward and said.

Many ministers sympathized with Su Hu, but pardoning him outright was indeed somewhat excessive.

Zi Shou sneered inwardly. Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, had always enjoyed a reputation for virtue. Because of his memorial, even Shang Rong had begun pleading for Su Hu.

"Let Su Hu's daughter, Daji, enter the palace. Have Su Hu remain in Chaoge City for now. Tomorrow, I will meet him personally. Court dismissed!"

He ignored Shang Rong, left behind a crowd of stunned ministers, and turned to leave the hall.

For the moment, what he had done today was enough. Su Hu's matter could be planned out slowly.

Only after he left the court did the countless ministers recover from their shock and immediately begin discussing the matter among themselves.

"The King actually killed the two treacherous ministers, Fei Zhong and You Hun?"

"Why has the King changed so drastically? Has he turned back from the wrong path?"

"No matter the reason, this is a blessing for Great Shang. So long as the King does not favor treacherous ministers, Great Shang will surely prosper!"

The King's sudden execution of Fei Zhong and You Hun had certainly startled them, but to them, it was undoubtedly good news.

The King's ability to change his former ways and execute treacherous ministers gave them hope.

Still, many ministers remained worried. How long could the King's uncharacteristic behavior truly last?

Zi Shou hurried back to the Inner Palace. After executing Fei Zhong and You Hun, he had felt the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors tremble.

When he once again arrived at the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors and placed both hands upon its doors, a gentle push caused them to swing open to either side.

Towering statues stood within the hall. Their faces could not be seen clearly, yet each radiated an indescribable aura.

Suddenly, scenes emerged before him—fragments of Human Emperors fighting bloodily to protect the Human Race.

"Who dares call himself invincible? Who dares claim he cannot be defeated?"

"Heaven cannot bury me, earth cannot destroy me. When yin and yang fall into chaos, I shall stain the blue sky with my demon blood!"

"I am the Heavenly Emperor. I shall suppress every enemy in this world!"

As he watched the Great Emperors fight to protect the Human Race, shedding blood so that humanity's path might flourish forever, his own blood began to boil.

In the Investiture of the Gods World, he was the King of Great Shang and the current Human Sovereign of the Human Race.

He suddenly understood why the Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors had chosen him. It likely knew his fate as well.

Before him, the Human Race had Human Sovereigns, who could stand as equals even before Saints.

After him, the Human Race would have no more Human Sovereigns, only Sons of Heaven.

Whether for the sake of changing his own fate or for the Human Race, he had to defy Heaven.

"From this day onward, I am a Great Emperor of the Human Race. I shall fight for the Human Race!"

As his voice rang out, countless statues slowly dissipated until only one remained before him.

When his hands touched the statue, a voice resounded in his mind.

"At the end of the Immortal Path, who stands at the peak? At the sight of Wu Shi, the Dao becomes empty!"

Among All Heavens and Myriad Realms, there had been countless Great Emperors of the Human Race, all peerlessly gifted, leaving behind innumerable legends that inspired longing.

In theory, within this Hall of Heroes of the Human Emperors, he could obtain the inheritance of any Great Emperor of the Human Race!