377. Wait, this supreme treasure isn't for me!?

Late at night, in the royal palace.

The palace has been somewhat unsettled lately.

His Majesty's favorite eighteenth son, Prince Hu Hai, suddenly fell seriously ill. Not only did he appear dazed and confused all day, but he also began to speak incomprehensible nonsense.

"Alas, poor Prince Hu Hai, I heard his illness has worsened these past few days."

"That's right. I heard that Prince Hu Hai is not only bedridden now, but also talking nonsense all day long, talking about airplanes and cars and such."

Two palace maids walked through the palace with their heads bowed, chatting idly.

Meanwhile, the young master Hu Hai, whom the two had been talking about, was lying on the bed with lifeless eyes.

Hu Hai felt a severe headache.

Countless jumbled memories and a jumbled mess of knowledge filled every corner of his mind, making him feel like a gluttonous person suffering from indigestion—it was incredibly uncomfortable.

Sometimes, Hu Hai even forgot who he was.

Hu Hai, the eighteenth prince of the Qin Dynasty, or Zhou Shuren, an elite figure who perished at sea. A jumble of conflicting memories tormented Hu Hai.

Clearly, no one in the palace could understand Prince Hu Hai's pain, nor could anyone comprehend his current predicament.

※※※

The First Emperor was a man of great talent and ambition, but like everyone else...

The First Emperor was, after all, a human being, and one who ruled over the entire world.

Ordinary people fear death, let alone the First Emperor. So, like most emperors, the First Emperor became obsessed with the pursuit of immortality in his later years.

Xianyang, Azure Cloud Hall.

Azure Cloud Hall is a special place established by the government to entertain extraordinary people from all over the world, among whom alchemists who know the methods of immortality and alchemy are the most popular.

However, entering Azure Cloud Hall is not an easy task. First, one must undergo a very rigorous examination, and second, one's identity must be verified.

Furthermore, the assessments at the Azure Cloud Hall are not held every day; they are only conducted on the three days at the beginning of each month.

Every time Azure Cloud Hall conducts an assessment, it attracts a large crowd of onlookers.

They weren't actually hoping for any miraculous magic; they just wanted to watch the spectacle.

Although the alchemists of this era did not possess the art of immortality, they were more or less skilled in some wondrous magic tricks that ordinary people could not comprehend. In an age lacking entertainment, these magic tricks were rare and magical sights that many people might never witness in their entire lives.

Therefore, at the beginning of each month, the assessment site at the Azure Cloud Hall is always crowded with spectators.

The assessment was held at the drill ground in the west of the city.

The enormous training ground covered an area of tens of thousands of square meters. In the center, a few hundred square meters of land was cordoned off with ropes as the testing area, while ordinary people were allowed to watch from outside.

Li Hao stood in the crowd, watching the performance above, feeling somewhat like he was watching a vaudeville act.

Things like swallowing swords and creating fire out of thin air.

Li Hao watched with little interest, but the surrounding crowd was extremely excited, frequently erupting in cheers.

There weren't many warlocks participating in the assessment this month; there were only five or six in total.

After all, the world had been at peace for a long time, and the First Emperor's admiration for the art of immortality was not something that had just begun. Any alchemists who had heard the news had already become his First Emperor and advisors. The alchemists who came to participate in the assessment now were either out of the loop or had only just begun their studies.

The assessment ended, and everyone dispersed.

Li Hao glanced deeply at the empty venue and revealed a mysterious smile.

interesting.

However, this group admin has no interest in playing your monkey show.

Li Hao pondered for a moment, then gazed at the distant location of the imperial palace before slowly walking towards it.

As he walked, his clothes changed.

He wore a purple-gold headband and a magnificent white robe embroidered with star patterns, leaving behind endless starlight that lingered for a long time as he walked.

The Imperial Palace.

Although the First Emperor was already quite old and his energy was declining, he never relaxed his vigilance regarding the empire and the changing situation in the world.

Even when exhausted or unwell, the First Emperor would personally review and approve memorials.

Today, the imperial court was completely calm.

The First Emperor knelt on the throne in the court, with many important ministers of the Qin Dynasty kneeling on either side below. Although the world had been at peace for a long time, the Baiyue in the south and the Hu people in the north were both forces that the Qin Dynasty could never let its guard down against.

The court assemblies were all the same, but even when it was news he was already tired of hearing, the First Emperor would still show a thoughtful expression.

"Your subject Li Si has something to report."

A gaunt middle-aged man bowed deeply.

The First Emperor turned his gaze slightly, about to speak, when a commotion suddenly arose outside.

"Someone, go and see what has happened!"

The First Emperor frowned slightly, revealing his displeasure.

He never tolerated anyone interfering with important matters of the court.

A eunuch bowed and left the main hall, hurrying towards the scene of chaos.

The young eunuch quickly ran back, his face full of shock.

He Shang-Chi and his voice trembled as he said, "Your Majesty, something has happened! Someone has broken into the palace!"

Someone has broken into the palace!?

The court fell into a deathly silence; everyone looked at each other, somewhat bewildered.

It's not that they haven't encountered such things before, but since the world has been at peace, people haven't heard of such things for countless years.

Hearing the sudden news that someone had forced their way into the palace was quite shocking.

The First Emperor's brows furrowed into a deep frown, and his tiger-like eyes gleamed with a terrifying cold light.

Even though he is old, he is still the First Emperor!

The First Emperor roared, "All traitors shall be severely punished!"

The young eunuch looked troubled, his body trembling as if in fear, and whispered, "But... but that man is impervious to swords and spears, and the palace guards can hardly get close to him."

Everyone blinked, dumbfounded.

Invulnerable to swords and spears, even palace guards couldn't get close!?

Li Si rebuked, "Absurd!"

Before Li Si could finish speaking, the First Emperor slightly raised his hand to stop him.

The First Emperor narrowed his tiger-like eyes and asked, "Speak, what has happened outside?"

The little eunuch trembled even more violently, his head buried deep in the ground, and slowly began to recount. "That person came from who knows where, standing there he automatically generated a dazzling starlight covering a distance of about ten feet, and no matter what bows and arrows or spears he was, none of them could break through the starlight's defense."

The guards tried everything, even bringing out siege equipment, but Coco couldn't do anything to that man.

Everyone was completely bewildered.

How could such a thing possibly exist in this world?

Li Si said, "If such a person existed in the world, wouldn't he be a god?"

The First Emperor's eyes flickered, and a hint of excitement appeared on his aged face.

immortal!?

Could it be that a deity has truly descended?

After a brief silence, the First Emperor said, "Lead the way. I want to see who dares to play tricks."

The ministers' expressions changed slightly, and they hurriedly tried to stop them.

"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"

"Your Majesty's health is of paramount importance; how can you risk such a danger?"

The First Emperor waved his sleeve and angrily rebuked, "I am the Emperor of the Qin Dynasty. If I dare not even step out of the palace, wouldn't I become a laughingstock to the world?"

The crowd wanted to say more, but the First Emperor had already strode away.

Outside the palace.

Li Hao stood beneath the imperial city walls with his eyes slightly closed.

He was surrounded by a hazy light, with twinkling stars within it, like a vast starry sea, full of unknown mystery. Beyond the starlight, there were broken arrows and terrified Qin Dynasty.

These men surrounded Li Hao about ten feet away, holding long spears and pointing Li Hao. However, their bodies trembled slightly, and their weapons swayed accordingly, showing absolutely no intimidating power.

The First Emperor soon arrived in front of the imperial city.

He stood on the city wall, looking down at the scene below, and a look of obvious surprise appeared on his face.

This person is truly extraordinary!?

The First Emperor was not unfamiliar with itinerant sorcerers; it was precisely because he had seen far too many of them that he understood how extraordinary the strange phenomena surrounding Li Hao were.

Li Hao slightly raised his eyelids and looked at the First Emperor.

He admired it in his heart.

The First Emperor truly deserves the Ancient One the greatest emperors of all time.

Even though he was old and just an ordinary person, the First Emperor's spirit and energy formed a unique domain.

This kind of power can only be formed when one's cultivation reaches a certain level.

The fact that an ordinary person Zeng Xiu could condense his essence, energy, and spirit into a powerful force is enough to illustrate the formidable power of the First Emperor.

Li Hao said calmly, "A person from beyond the heavens greets Your Majesty."

A person from beyond the heavens.

The First Emperor was somewhat taken aback. After a moment's thought, he asked, "From beyond the heavens? What does this mean?"

Li Hao narrowed his eyes slightly and slowly said, "The outer heavens are a place beyond the mortal realm, a place of Eternal immortality. This place is beyond the reach of ordinary people, beyond their knowledge, and beyond their reach."

The First Emperor's pupils constricted, and his excitement grew even stronger.

Beyond the heavens, beyond the mortal realm, Eternal immortal!

That's the legendary abode of immortals and gods!

Could it really be a deity!?

As the First Emperor gazed at the extraordinary phenomena surrounding Li Hao, he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of belief.

How can mortals be invulnerable to swords and spears? How can mortals be draped in stars? How can mortals possess such grace and bearing?!

The First Emperor barely suppressed his excitement, but his voice still trembled slightly. "Sir, what brings you to disturb the imperial city?"

Li Hao said calmly, "Your Majesty is destined by Heaven to unify the Nine Provinces."

However, while this is an unprecedented spectacle, it does not fulfill Your Majesty's mission. Today, I bring three priceless treasures from beyond the heavens, hoping to lend Your Majesty a helping hand.

Li Hao was already overjoyed as he said this.

People online often wonder if, if the First Emperor had been given a complete world map, he could have conquered the entire globe. Li Hao felt that he was slightly luckier than those people, because he not only had the ability to imagine it, but he could also provide the First Emperor with a living map.

As for whether the First Emperor could conquer the Earth, Li Hao didn't know, but he expressed great anticipation.

Treasure!

The First Emperor's breathing became rapid, and his eyes shone with an unprecedented brilliance.

Before he could speak, Li Hao continued, "I have foreseen that there is someone in Xianyang City who is destined to be with me and will obtain a supreme treasure. However, there are many people in Xianyang City, and the secrets of heaven are confusing and difficult to discern. I still need Your Majesty's help."

The smile on the First Emperor's face was somewhat stiff.

Wait, let's make this clear.

This priceless treasure, wasn't it meant for me!?