"Buzzz..."
In an instant, the aura within Fire Cloud Palace surged into a boil. Behind the statue of the Xuanyuan Clan, a volcano-like phantom appeared, and within it, a divine beast manifested. It scratched its backside with one hand while holding a green bamboo shoot in the other, munching away. Adorably lumbering as it looked, it gave the impression that a single swipe of its rounded paw could shatter heaven and earth!
Behind Shennong's statue, plants sprang up in profusion, each swaying gently and radiating boundless, brilliant vitality. Beyond that vitality lay an immense pressure, as though a single blade of grass could cut down the sun, moon, and stars!
Behind Fuxi, a diagram of the eight trigrams shone: Heaven, Earth, Thunder, Wind, Water, Fire, Mountain, and Lake. They slowly revolved and swayed, emanating a mysterious aura. With every rotation, tiny worlds seemed to evolve through destruction and rebirth, wondrous beyond compare.
Just as I thought!
At the sight, Di Xin immediately burst into laughter inwardly.
He had known that once he brought out the Thousand Character Classic, his ultimate weapon, the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors could not possibly remain unmoved or unshaken.
After all, the Thousand Character Classic had been written in later ages specifically to teach young children. Children in practically every household could recite it!
What was the human Dao? It was the faith of each individual, and children were hope itself!
Just imagine the spectacle of every child under heaven reciting the achievements of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors!
Not to mention, he had altered the Thousand Character Classic, placing the achievements of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors immediately after the creation of heaven and earth. The significance needed no further explanation.
"Di Xin obeys the commands of the three sacred sovereigns and takes his leave!"
Without a trace of fear on his face, Di Xin faced the three Human Emperors for a long while. Then a smile suddenly curled his lips, and he turned to walk out of Fire Cloud Palace.
Of course he could not bring out all the good stuff at once. He had to dole it out little by little to maximize his gains!
[Negative emotion points from the Xuanyuan Clan: +500...] [Negative emotion points from Shennong: +500...] [Negative emotion points from Fuxi: +500. Running total: +10650...]
Almost the instant he turned around, a string of numbers flashed through the system's backend, bringing in a substantial haul.
Clearly, the half-recited Thousand Character Classic had thoroughly piqued the Three Sovereigns' interest. Being denied the rest had left them resentful...
But this also confirmed something for Di Xin: the three venerable ancestors in Fire Cloud Cave probably were not as willing to remain aloof and uninvolved as Investiture of the Gods depicted them. They simply had not found a reason to interfere, or had yet to discover any benefit in getting involved!
As long as he offered them enough benefits, why worry that he could not cling to those three mighty pillars of support?
"Your Majesty..."
Meanwhile, once Di Xin emerged from Fire Cloud Palace, Bi Gan immediately gave him a look filled with sorrow and sympathy.
They had all clearly heard Human Emperor Fuxi's thunderous rebuke.
Being unloved by the gods was bad enough, but even his ancestors had no love for him. How could anyone not feel sympathy?
Moreover, if even the Three Sovereigns scolded him so harshly, Di Xin was undoubtedly a foolish ruler and a tyrant!
"Chancellor, I am in an excellent mood today. Pass down my decree: we shall feast with all the ministers, and no one leaves sober!"
Hearing him, Di Xin laughed heartily and slapped Bi Gan hard on the shoulder as he spoke.
A foolish ruler... a foolish ruler... Even after that cudgel of a rebuke from the Three Sage Emperors, he refuses to repent and wants to drink and make merry...
Bi Gan's heart ached, and he sighed repeatedly.
[Negative emotion points from Bi Gan: +100...]
"Chancellor, oh, Chancellor. You do not understand my happiness, but I understand your heart!"
Watching the figures in the backend, Di Xin smiled even more happily and gave Bi Gan's shoulder another two heavy slaps.
[Negative emotion points from Bi Gan: +200...]
Looking at the backend figures, Di Xin grinned so broadly he could barely close his mouth. It suddenly occurred to him that perhaps, instead of cutting out old Bi Gan's heart, keeping him nearby as a Negative Emotion Points cash machine, just like Su Hu, would not be a bad idea.
Though Bi Gan always liked to sing a contrary tune, he was quite capable of getting things done. Before long, the banquet was ready.
Yet after barely a couple of sips of wine and a few bites of meat, Di Xin lost interest.
Who was he? Someone from a later age. Though his purse had been thin back then, he had still tasted pan-fried, stir-fried, simmered, and deep-fried food, not to mention all those different spices...
But in Great Shang, even he, the supreme sovereign, ate nothing more than bland roasted or boiled meat. The wine was thin and tasteless, with a sour tang so unpleasant that calling it vinegar would have been a compliment.
Wine Pool... Meat Forest... Ha... What a bunch of unimaginative idiots!
Watching the ministers around him relishing their food and drink, Di Xin inwardly poured scorn on these ignorant fellows.
"Your Majesty..." After a few cups, Bi Gan noticed Di Xin frowning at everyone around him. He wondered whether the king had turned over a new leaf after being berated by the Three Sage Emperors, and moved closer to offer a few words of counsel.
"Dismissed!"
The moment Di Xin saw him approach, he abruptly rose and kicked over the heap of utterly ghastly food before him. Then, clasping his hands behind his back, he turned and left. He wanted to see what improvements the fully unlocked system had brought, and find out what was so special about the Suiren Tranquil Heart Method...
[Negative emotion points from Bi Gan: +100. Running total: 11050...]
Hearing the backend notification, Di Xin turned back to Bi Gan and said gravely, "Chancellor, find me a few craftsmen. Craftsmen who make implements. I want to make a few things."
"As you command."
Bi Gan clasped his hands in assent, then contributed another 100 negative emotion points toward Di Xin, whom he had judged to be a lazy pleasure-seeker who dabbled in frivolous contraptions and consorted with servants.
[Human Emperor System. System options: Bargain Mall, Spin-to-Win, Income Log...]
After returning to the rear palace, Di Xin immediately discovered that the system in his head had gained another option: the Bargain Mall.
He opened the mall and found a three-by-three grid of grayed-out slots, with only one illuminated.
Inside that slot was a lush green blade of grass, gently swaying and emitting a most inauspicious green glow.
Beneath the grass were the words: (Dao-Merging Grass: contains a small quantity of random fragments of Great Dao laws. Upon consumption, condenses a small quantity of random Great Dao laws within the body. Price per stalk: 5000...)
Five thousand for a blade of grass? Why not just rob me!
Di Xin nearly spat blood. The system's black heart was darker than an old crow and blacker than an old sow!
"Let's see what is so different about this Suiren Tranquil Heart Method..."
Di Xin took a deep breath, then directed his consciousness toward the sheet of gold foil blazing with golden flames in his mind.
"Heart fire burns, heart fire burns, heart fire burns; the doors of my heart, the doors of my heart, the doors of my heart, can't hold it in, can't hold it in, can't hold it in anymore..."
The next instant, an incredibly familiar melody suddenly rang in Di Xin's ears. The maddeningly repetitive singing actually made him leap to his feet.
"???"
Di Xin stared blankly, completely stunned!
Can someone tell me what the hell this is? The Suiren Tranquil Heart Method is this damned thing?
I worked so hard to get all the gods to come after me, and this useless piece of crap is what I got in return?
Don't tell me old Suiren Shi hummed this little ditty while jogging all the way to Fire Cloud Cave to join the Three Sage Emperors in anchoring the Human Race's destiny?
Did the venerable old man also link arms with Auntie Baiyun and march on without looking back?!
Does this system want not only other people's negative emotion points, but those of its Host too?! That must be it!
"Your Majesty, Lady Daji requests an audience." Just then, a young palace maid's soft voice suddenly came from outside the door.
That fox spirit can't wait any longer? She wants to bewitch me as quickly as possible and complete Nuwa's Mission?!
Already deeply irritated, Di Xin sneered upon hearing this, waved a hand, and said, "Tell her to get lost!"
[Negative emotion points from Daji: +200...]
But when he saw the backend figures, Di Xin's eyes shifted. "Never mind. Summon her inside."
"As you command." The young palace maid answered respectfully, then nodded to Daji, who was kneeling outside the door.
Foolish ruler, have you finally lost control and decided to reveal your depraved, debauched nature?! This time, I'll make you fall to your knees beneath my nine tails and squeeze you into...
At those words, Daji swayed her soft, alluring figure. Sneering inwardly, she called out a syrupy "Your Majesty" and moved to push the door open.
"I have changed my mind. Get lost after all."
Yet just as Daji's hand touched the door, Di Xin's icy voice suddenly sounded from inside!
Daji: ???
[Negative emotion points from Daji: +500...]
Before you continue