Do You Want to Be Emperor?

"Good, good, good—truly Dual Ultimate!"

After confirming this once-in-ten-thousand-years talent, Kong Deming slowly withdrew his hand, little by little reining in his exposed emotions. Yet even so, a trace of irrepressible excitement remained in the depths of his world-weary eyes.

He sat back down in the ancient wooden chair. After a brief silence, he looked at Ye Chenxing and spoke calmly.

"Child, do you know about your origins?"

Ye Chenxing casually withdrew his Martial Soul into his body and shook his head.

"Only a little. Grandfather did not tell me everything before he passed away. He only instructed me that my Martial Soul came from the Sun Moon Imperial House and told me to come to the Sun Moon Empire. He also said I did not need to hide my abilities—that I should stand out and display my talent."

Kong Deming's white brows twitched slightly as he fell into thought.

"Stand out as much as possible, display your talent..."

He chewed over those words twice in his heart and gradually grasped their deeper meaning.

With such peerless Dual-Ultimate talent, hiding it away in some small place would instead make it easy for someone with ill intentions to erase him in secret. But once he came to the Sun Moon Empire and revealed his talent openly, letting everyone know such a genius existed, those who wished to act against him would have to think twice.

The person who had raised this child, likely a consecrator from the previous dynasty, had considered everything with remarkable thoroughness.

He understood that the Sun Moon Empire would never kill a child with such talent. On the contrary, the more people knew of Ye Chenxing's gifts, the more important he would become, and the safer his position would be. At the same time, the old man had not planted seeds of hatred in the child's heart. Instead, he had handed the decision concerning his origins over to the empire, to be decided by people such as Kong Deming.

Yet no matter how carefully that old man had planned, he likely had not anticipated one thing—the current emperor, in order to consolidate his throne and deal with the powerful Soul Masters from the former three nations, had long ago invited wolves into his house and secretly colluded with Evil Soul Masters. That meant Chenxing's Ultimate Light, while becoming the bane of Evil Soul Masters, could also become a fatal disaster that claimed his life.

Kong Deming fell silent for a while before suddenly looking at Ye Chenxing again. His gaze became somewhat complicated. Since this child had come to the Sun Moon Empire, there were truths he would have to learn sooner or later. Rather than let him hear them from someone else in the future and develop a grudge, it would be better for Kong Deming to tell him plainly himself.

"Chenxing."

"You have lived in seclusion in the Heaven Dou Empire under your grandfather's protection all these years. I can think of only one reason... Your parents most likely died during the change of imperial power back then. They were killed by the forces of the current emperor. That palace coup implicated far too many people."

"Ha—!"

Jing Hongchen, standing nearby, sucked in a sharp breath. The fat all over his body trembled three times as he stared wide-eyed at Kong Deming, nearly believing he had misheard.

Teacher! Can you really say that outright?!

His heart skipped a beat, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Wasn't this too cruel for a teenager? What if the child was overwhelmed by hatred on the spot and cried out that he wanted revenge? Then there would be no salvaging the situation!

Yet Ye Chenxing's reaction greatly surprised him.

There was none of the anger, sorrow, or anything else Jing Hongchen had expected. Ye Chenxing merely fell silent for a moment, as if digesting the news. Then he raised his head and calmly met Kong Deming's gaze.

"Elder Kong," he said. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear. "I grew up in the Heaven Dou Empire, relying on Grandfather and my sister. To me, they were my true family."

He paused, a perfectly measured seriousness appearing in his eyes. "Grandfather's only wish before he died was for me to return to the Sun Moon Empire, use my talent here, and become someone extraordinary. Compared to parents I had never met and remembered nothing about... I would rather fulfill his last wish."

Those words were not particularly impassioned, but they carried a clarity and composure exceedingly rare in someone his age. He neither deliberately avoided the fact of the "murder of his parents" nor allowed hatred to carry him away and rob him of his reason. He simply made his position crystal clear.

Jing Hongchen was stunned for quite a while before finally letting out a long sigh of relief inwardly.

Ah, this child has truly suffered... he thought, his gaze toward Ye Chenxing gaining a touch more tenderness. He possessed such peerless talent, yet had drifted into a backwater like the Heaven Dou Empire from childhood, never even seeing his biological parents. Now, after finally returning to his ancestral home, he learned that his parents had already died in a palace coup... An ordinary child would probably have broken down long ago.

Just as his thoughts ran wild and he was overwhelmed with emotion, Kong Deming's next words sent the heart he had just set down leaping back into his throat.

"Chenxing, I have one more question for you."

Kong Deming slowly straightened in his chair. It was as though two dark flames burned within his profound eyes. He asked, enunciating each word clearly.

"Do you want to become emperor?"

Dead silence.

The air in the entire room seemed to freeze at that instant. Jing Hongchen felt a chill shoot up from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

Teacher, do you know what you're saying?!

Should I even be standing here?!

The corners of his mouth twitched repeatedly. He wanted to say something to smooth things over, but his tongue seemed tied, and he could not force out a single word. Because he had belatedly realized a fact that sent a chill down his spine.

His teacher was the head of the Sun Moon Empire's Hall of Consecration, effectively the empire's true number one figure. Ye Chenxing, meanwhile, was a legitimate imperial descendant who possessed the Dual-Ultimate Solar Martial Soul. If these two truly wanted to do something, it seemed they really could turn Ming Capital upside down without difficulty.

Jing Hongchen did not dare think any further.

He nervously looked at Ye Chenxing. Even his breathing unconsciously quickened as his heart filled with unease and curiosity over what answer the boy would give.

As for Ye Chenxing, under his gaze, he was initially stunned upon hearing the question. He had not expected Kong Deming to ask something so direct.

But he quickly revealed a smile.

Having thoroughly read the original story, he knew that this old man, who controlled the lifeblood of the Sun Moon Empire, was not sensitive at all about who inherited imperial power. There were only two things he truly cared about: the stability of the Sun Moon Empire and the continuation of soul guidance technology.

This was merely a simple test.

Or perhaps...? He was truly considering this possibility...?

"Elder Kong." Ye Chenxing raised his head, the smile at his lips remaining composed. "I have no interest whatsoever in that dragon throne. In my view, the Sun Moon Empire's throne... is nothing more than a burden, one that requires constant vigilance against hidden arrows and leaves you tangled every day in state affairs and pointless struggles for power."

A burden.

The supreme position of the mighty Sun Moon Empire had actually become a "burden" in his mouth.

Jing Hongchen's mouth fell open, and the fat on his face froze. In all his years, this was the first time he had heard someone use that word to describe the imperial throne. If the one in the palace and those princes fighting bloody battles for the throne heard it, they would probably be enraged enough to cough up blood.

But Kong Deming's reaction was entirely different. He was initially slightly stunned, then a conspicuous flash of surprise passed through his eyes. Soon after, an unprecedented smile appeared on his ordinarily unreadable face.

This child is very much like me!

"Then what do you want?" Kong Deming pressed, a barely perceptible expectation entering his tone.

Ye Chenxing's smile faded. A deep light shone within his ruby-clear eyes. He spoke slowly, his voice quiet, yet every word rang like a struck bell.

"I have only one wish—to cultivate to the pinnacle of this world. Like that generation of the Shrek Seven Monsters ten thousand years ago, I want to become a god."

The greatest sound was silence.

The entire room fell quiet. Kong Deming and Jing Hongchen were both rooted to the spot by those words. A teenager could disdain the supreme imperial authority, yet hold such firm faith in becoming a god—a dream so illusory that it existed only in legends from ten thousand years ago.

After a brief silence, an uncontrollable burst of wild joy finally erupted in Kong Deming's eyes.

"Good! Good! Good!"

With such temperament, such talent, and such vision—this was the kind of person who could support the future of the Sun Moon Empire!

Kong Deming drew a deep breath, his eyes blazing as he stared at Ye Chenxing and asked, one word at a time.

"Ye Chenxing, are you willing to become my disciple?"

Ye Chenxing's eyes immediately lit up. He had originally thought that, before displaying talent as a Soul Engineer, he would not earn the favor of the strongest Soul Engineer. It seemed he had still underestimated the appeal that Ultimate—or rather, Dual Ultimate—held for the Sun Moon Empire.

Without any coyness or hesitation, he immediately stepped back half a pace, folded his hands together, and gave Kong Deming a deep, solemn, respectful bow.

"This disciple, Ye Chenxing, greets Teacher!"

Watching this scene from the side, Jing Hongchen felt sour inside. He secretly sighed that he had ultimately missed out on a peerless young talent.

But the matter was settled, so he quickly put on a smiling face and clasped his hands. "Congratulations, Teacher, on gaining such an excellent disciple! Congratulations, Junior Brother!"

Kong Deming accepted Ye Chenxing's bow and nodded in satisfaction. He then turned to Jing Hongchen, his tone regaining its authority.

"Hongchen, make the arrangements at once. Quickly inform those people in the imperial family that Chenxing is my disciple."

Kong Deming paused, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "But the matter of his Dual-Ultimate Martial Soul must be kept hidden. It must absolutely not spread! Chenxing's true talent need only be known by the very few highest-ranking members of our Sun Moon Empire."

No matter what, Kong Deming did not want his newly accepted disciple to become entangled in the Sun Moon Empire's internal struggles. That would do nothing but harm his growth.

"Yes, Teacher," Jing Hongchen respectfully accepted the order.

"I have had someone reserve a residence for you near the Hall of Consecration."

Kong Deming looked at Ye Chenxing, his tone gentle. "From now on, I will personally take responsibility for your safety. In Ming Capital, no one will be able to touch a single hair on your head."