Chapter 35

Ever since Ying Zheng had become obsessed with immortality, stumbled into the path of cultivation by chance, and faked his death to bring all his trusted followers into this plane, he had initially been filled with ambition to conquer new lands. But after occupying more than half of Rainbow Continent, he found it meaningless and turned instead to comprehending the laws of the Heavenly Dao. For the past thousand years, he had left court affairs to the Three Ducal Ministers and Nine Ministers and had not concerned himself with state affairs for a long time. Fusu, as Crown Prince, cultivated while overseeing the vast empire. He was more familiar with local matters.

"...Liu Bang!" Ying Zheng's slender fingers tapped unconsciously against the armrest at his side, a habit he had developed back when he was Qin Shi Huang. "...Have Li Si come see me."

A moment later, a young man dressed in the black robes of a Qin Dynasty prime minister hurried into the hall. He stopped beside Qin Yi, then bowed respectfully and said, "This minister, Li Si, greets Your Majesty."

Historical records stated that Li Si and Zhao Gao had worked together to kill Fusu, but Qin Yi studied Fusu's expression and saw no trace of resentment. There was probably another side to the story.

"There is a lord named Liu Bang in the northwestern reaches?" Ying Zheng went straight to the heart of the matter. Ordinary people might not even understand what he was asking, but Li Si had followed Ying Zheng for many years and naturally understood his habits.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the northwestern desert has always been a desolate region. Few cultivators live there; it is the territory of demonic beasts. I have heard that the strongest demonic beast faction there is the Heavenly Dragon Clan. Their current ruler is indeed someone named Liu Bang. However, this lord's spiritual power does not seem particularly high. It was his grandson, after taking over the territory, who achieved quite a bit."

"What is his grandson called?" Fusu asked curiously.

"Liu Che!" Li Si replied with his head lowered.

Emperor Wu of Han? Qin Yi nearly bit off his own tongue. What kind of world was this?

For a time, no one spoke. Only the faint sound of Ying Zheng's fingers tapping the dragon throne's armrest could be heard. After a long while, Ying Zheng said, "Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han... I want to meet this rebel who shares my fame!"

Li Si clearly did not know about the conversation Qin Yi had just had with the Ying clan father and son. He looked at Ying Zheng in confusion. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the three million imperial guards under this minister's command are spread across all of Rainbow Continent. There have been no reports of any troop movements in the northwest?"

This concerned whether he had neglected his duties, so he had no choice but to defend himself.

"This matter has nothing to do with the prime minister. There is no need for you to worry." Fusu took over. "By the way, do you know where this Liu Bang came from?"

"..." Li Si was utterly baffled by the question.

"Qin Yi says they came from Origin Star, just like us. And only after stealing the Qin Dynasty's imperial mandate..." Fusu glanced at Ying Zheng and left the rest unsaid.

Yet with Li Si's intelligence, that was enough for him to infer most of it. He understood roughly eighty percent at once.

"Reporting to Your Highness the Crown Prince, this minister does not know where Liu Bang came from. However, I believe several people may know something."

"Oh?" Fusu raised his brow with interest.

"Han Xin and Xiao He. Those two seem to have some connection with Liu Bang," Li Si said.

Qin Yi, standing nearby, had already gone numb. Had everyone in history with even a little ability ended up here? Would he get to see Li Shimin and Zhao Kuangyin someday too...?

Seeing Qin Yi's utterly bewildered expression, Fusu seemed to understand. "You have heard these names before?"

Qin Yi nodded resignedly.

"Then, Your Majesty, should this minister..." Li Si looked at Qin Yi and immediately asked. He did not know who Qin Yi was, but anyone Fusu valued so highly was certainly not someone he could afford to offend.

"There is no need... The matters of the past are over..." Ying Zheng waved a hand and said slowly, "If he could not hold onto the empire, it was because Hu Hai himself was useless. I merely want to meet Liu Che, the man who shares my fame. Li Si, see to it immediately!"

"Yes!" Li Si bowed in acknowledgment. Seeing that Ying Zheng had no further questions, he respectfully saluted Fusu and slowly withdrew from the hall. From beginning to end, he showed no curiosity about Qin Yi's appearance.

"..."

"Qin Yi, how did you get here?" Once Li Si had left, Fusu looked at Qin Yi curiously. From Qin Yi's aura, he could tell that Qin Yi's cultivation was far from sufficient to shatter the void, making his appearance here a mystery.

Qin Yi hesitated. He did not know whether he should tell Fusu about the space. But if he lied, he was afraid he would not be able to fool Ying Zheng, the renowned Qin Shi Huang.

Just as he was wavering, he suddenly received a message from Andre. With confidence now, he said, "I have a special ability that allows me to travel through space. So..."

Fusu was shocked. He knew some people were born with extraordinary gifts, but he had never seen anyone as heaven-defying as Qin Yi.

"Then can you return to Origin Star?"

"No problem." Qin Yi nodded.

"I wonder what the Ying clan bloodline is like now." Fusu's expression turned distant. People of ancient times had an extraordinary obsession with inheritance and lineage, something Qin Yi could not understand. But seeing Fusu like this, an idea suddenly came to him—

"My space can carry people across, but when someone is placed inside it, they will lose consciousness..." Qin Yi still kept something hidden. He did not want anyone to know Andre existed. If Fusu truly wanted to go, he would have Andre find a way to knock Fusu unconscious, then release him after they arrived. It was best to keep something in reserve.

"This..." Fusu was clearly tempted. He unconsciously glanced at Ying Zheng.

Seeing Fusu's expectant expression, Ying Zheng unconsciously frowned. Yet he understood Fusu's obsession with descendants. Unlike Fusu, Ying Zheng had a cold and fierce nature. When Hu Hai had abandoned immortality for worldly imperial power, Ying Zheng had treated it as though he had never had such a son. But Fusu had always been gentle, softhearted, and kind. Naturally, he could not sever the ties of blood as completely as Ying Zheng could. After coming to Rainbow Continent, the clan members on Origin Star had become Fusu's fixation. Now that he had learned news of his descendants, with Fusu's personality...

"If those from a higher plane travel to a lower plane, they may disrupt the laws of the lower plane and cause immeasurable consequences." Ying Zheng merely gave Qin Yi a calm look and stated the fact.

Fusu's expression darkened. Ying Zheng was cold by nature, and Fusu was his only weakness. He could not bear to see Fusu disappointed. His calm, emotionless eyes fixed on Qin Yi as he said, "Can you not carry people between planes? Then bring the descendants of the Qin Clan on Origin Star here... those willing to come, bring them all. Since you have begun cultivating, surely some of the clan members on Origin Star have sufficient talent to enter the path of cultivation. Origin Star's spiritual energy is too thin now; it is no longer suitable for your development..."

After considering it, Ying Zheng added, "As for those willing to indulge in worldly prosperity, there is no need to bother with them. Let them remain on Origin Star."

The Cultivation Realm was a place where the strong devoured the weak and strength was everything. Those without the perseverance to cultivate bitterly were better off not coming. Otherwise, they would only harm themselves and others.

"Fine." Qin Yi agreed reluctantly. He had not finished having fun yet! Fortunately, he had already bought all the souvenirs he wanted for his family. Otherwise, this trip would truly have been wasted.

"Then go back now," Ying Zheng said coldly.

"Huh?" Qin Yi pouted aggrievedly and looked at Fusu. "I've only been here for two days."

He knew bargaining with Ying Zheng was like hanging oneself from a tree at a birthday celebration—asking for death. But Fusu was different. He was naturally gentle, kind, and indecisive. Qin Yi was also his descendant from who knew how many generations later, so he naturally could not bear to see him wronged.

"Father, Little Yi has only just arrived. Traveling between planes is exhausting as well. Why not let this minister accompany him for a few days, let him familiarize himself with Rainbow Continent, and then send him back?" Fusu looked at Ying Zheng pleadingly.

"...As you wish!" Ying Zheng looked at Fusu's pleading face with a cold expression, then closed his eyes impassively.

"Then I'll take Qin Yi away first." Seeing Ying Zheng's expression, Fusu knew he was dismissing them. He had long grown accustomed to Ying Zheng's temperament, so he rubbed his nose and led Qin Yi out.

"Ah Yi, where do you want to go?" Fusu looked at Qin Yi kindly. He had had no children in his previous life and had been "killed" by Hu Hai early on, so he did not really know how to get along with children. He simply believed that giving Qin Yi whatever he wanted would be enough.

"...I want to see Emperor Wu of Han..." Qin Yi said shamelessly. Fusu gave him a feeling similar to Qin Rong, so he was more at ease around him.

"But he is currently in the northwestern demonic beast territory..." Fusu looked troubled. Naturally, he knew whom Qin Yi meant. But that area was almost entirely demonic beast territory, and it would not be easy for Fusu to bring someone there. What if something happened?

"Ah? Is that so..." Qin Yi immediately drooped in disappointment.

"Um... But if we bring more guards, it should still be possible." Seeing Qin Yi's dejected appearance, Fusu thought for a moment and changed his mind. After all, Ying Zheng was the ruler of Rainbow Continent and the acknowledged strongest expert among all factions. Even the Celestial Dragon lineage should give him some face...

Qin Yi's eyes immediately lit up. He was not worried about danger. At worst, he could bring Fusu into his space to hide! Who could do anything to him then? The main thing was that opportunities to meet Emperor Wu of Han were rare! Of course he had to seize one.

When Fusu saw Qin Yi's face brighten at once, he immediately knew he had made the right choice. At that moment, Meng Yi, who had passed through layer after layer of checkpoints outside the hall, arrived before them. Seeing Fusu's smiling face, he could not help asking, "Well?"

"It really is the Ying clan bloodline from Origin Star." Fusu nodded in high spirits. "That branch of your Meng Clan has done well."

Meng Yi nodded to show he understood. Then he looked at Fusu and asked, "Where are you preparing to go?"

"Qin Yi says Liu Bang, the Celestial Dragon lord in the far northwest, came from Origin Star. Qin Yi wants to go take a look." Time had passed, and Fusu had no desire to say much more. After briefly explaining the reason, he said to Meng Yi, "General Meng, come with us as well."

Meng Yi frowned after hearing Fusu's words. The far northwest was indeed Qin Dynasty territory, but it was generally occupied by demonic beasts. Even an imperial decree from Qin Shi Huang might not be carried out there. Under such circumstances, it did not seem wise for the Crown Prince to risk himself.

"It's fine. I'll protect Ancestor Fusu," Qin Yi quickly said when he saw Meng Yi's expression. He had finally persuaded Fusu to let him go; he could not let Meng Yi ruin it. He could go alone, of course, but judging by Fusu's attitude, he would never let Qin Yi go so easily by himself.

Meng Yi secretly laughed at this. What confidence could a little brat like him possibly have? But seeing Fusu's expression, he knew Fusu had already made up his mind. He had no intention of playing the villain, so he clasped his fists and said, "Yes! This minister will make preparations at once."

The Crown Prince was traveling, which was a major matter. By the time the chariots and honor guard had been prepared, several more hours had passed. Fusu held Qin Yi as they sat in a dragon carriage pulled through the sky by four Azure Dragons. Looking at the honor guard behind them, each riding demonic beasts such as White Tigers and black panthers, Qin Yi could not help sighing.

"I get to look this awesome too!"

The demonic beast territory in the far northwest was several light-years from Chang'an. If the Azure Dragons did not possess spatial magic and fly at tremendous speed, even flying on swords would have taken the two of them decades. Yet now, after only one day and one night, they arrived in Celestial Dragon territory.