Xuandu looked at Xuanyuan and slowly spoke:
"Do you know what an emperor is?"
Xuanyuan pondered for a moment before answering:
"An emperor is one who is great."
"The lord of all things, honored above all people."
"One who commands the four directions and spreads his grace over all living beings."
Xuandu nodded.
"Correct."
"But that is only the literal meaning."
"A true emperor is not a title, not status, not power."
"It is responsibility."
"It is the courage to bear burdens."
"It is to seek blessings for all people and carve out lasting peace for all ages."
He paused, and his voice deepened.
"You have reigned for a thousand years. What have you done?"
Xuanyuan froze.
What had he done?
He had handled state affairs, quelled rebellions, fended off demon calamities, and promoted benevolent governance.
Every single thing had been for the people.
Yet when Master asked, he found that he did not know how to answer.
Because those things were too small.
So small they were not worth mentioning.
So small they were not enough to awaken the Human Dao.
So small they did not deserve the title of Human Emperor.
Xuandu looked at him, his gaze deepening slightly.
"Fuxi comprehended the Innate Eight Trigrams and performed Heavenly Secret Deduction, laying down rules and boundaries for the Human Race."
"Shennong tasted a hundred herbs and taught the people to farm, freeing the Human Race from the hardships of hunger and cold."
"And you?"
"What will you do?"
Xuanyuan fell silent.
Beneath the Heavenly Stele, he stood with his brows tightly furrowed.
What would he do?
He had never considered that question.
He had only known that, having inherited the position of common sovereign, he had to speak for the people.
He had to toil day and night.
He