After leaving the Magic Academy, Qin Ze returned to the royal palace to search for traces left by the Echo.
Geese leave their mark in flight.
Since Echo has made a deal with this world, it must have left something behind.
After a careful search, Qin Ze actually found something.
At this moment, Qin Ze was standing in front of the emperor's sickbed.
Although the emperor's physical body was on the verge of collapse, his spirit remained perfectly intact.
When a person begins to die, his body and soul perish simultaneously.
However, the emperor's spirit was as complete as that of an eighteen-year-old lad, completely disproportionate to his frail physical body.
Qin Ze had overlooked this point before.
It was only discovered during his thorough search, which left no stone unturned.
The interesting thing Qin Ze was talking about with the Clown just now was referring to the Emperor's complete spirit.
"Who is protecting you...?"
Qin Ze's gaze fell on the amethyst on the emperor's chest.
Immediately, he released a weak mental shock towards the emperor on his sickbed.
The amethyst emitted light, completely blocking Qin Ze's mental attack.
Qin Ze murmured, "Just as I thought..."
It was the faith of the Amethyst people that protected this dying emperor.
The Power of Faith of all beings resides in the Emperor's amethyst; though very weak, it is enough to protect his spirit.
But this is nothing more than prolonging its existence.
As time passes and the Power of Faith is exhausted, the imperial spirit, having lost its protection, will also perish.
If the emperor clearly had the desire to accept the faith of all people, why would he store it in a high tower?
Qin Ze was lost in thought.
He tried to piece together the jumbled information he currently knew.
But still, there was no result.
Through the Clown's perspective, Qin Ze witnessed the myriad aspects of life at the banquet.
People clinked glasses and toasted each other, seemingly forgetting the emperor on his sickbed.
The three princes sat opposite the Clown.
The second prince is in the center.
The eldest prince and the third prince stood on either side, silent and reserved, both declaring him their leader.
The ministers and nobles around him kept offering toasts to the second prince, while the other two princes were completely ignored.
A fat, burly nobleman approached the second prince, smiling broadly as he raised his wine cup, saying, "Your Highness, the heavy responsibilities of the empire will now rest entirely on your shoulders."
"We will continue to be loyal to you as we are to the Emperor."
The other nobles immediately swarmed around, like cats smelling blood.
"Second Prince, from now on you will be our faith!"
"The Empire needs your help a lot."
"Loyalty!"
"..."
The second prince responded with a smile.
He was very polite to everyone.
He accepts all toasts offered.
The remaining two princes were like invisible people, completely relegated to supporting roles.
Having witnessed the entire process, Qin Ze murmured to himself, "Faith, loyalty..."
Suddenly, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Qin Ze's mind.
"So that's how it is..."
Qin Ze turned his head to look at the towering Amethyst Tower outside the window, and he had a general idea of what was going on.
He said to Miss Sword Case, "I want to control his dreams."
Miss Sword Case replied, "It's very simple!"
Later, Miss Sword Case used Daydream Seed to connect Qin Ze into the Emperor's dream.
It was pitch black.
The emperor ran around inside, panting.
He wanted to escape from here.
But there was no exit from this place at all.
He didn't know how long he had walked; he just instinctively kept moving forward.
Swish--
A glimmer of light appeared in the deep darkness ahead.
Immediately afterwards, the glimmer of light spread rapidly, illuminating the entire darkness in an instant.
A golden, six-armed giant appeared out of thin air.
He stood firmly on the ground, head held high, his gaze piercing.
A vast divine might swept in, and the emperor's body swayed precariously, struggling to stay upright.
" The Amethyst Clan is facing a crisis of extinction, are you aware of that?"
The emperor looked up at the deity who had appeared in his dream, gritted his teeth, and said in a deep voice, "I do not know who our enemy is, He Fang comes from."
Qin Ze said calmly, "You cannot accept the beliefs of the masses."
"Now you are exhausted and your life is over. Once you die, the enemy from the shadows will devour the entire Amethyst Clan."
I can help you.
The emperor was silent for a moment. "How could I know if you are him, or if you would also devour the Amethyst Clan?"
Qin Ze looked down at him and said, "You may sign a contract with me."
"This will be a Fairness trade."
"I swear to the heavens and to my Heart of God that I will do everything in my power to ensure the Amethyst Clan survives this crisis."
"Help the Amethyst Clan defeat that lurking enemy."
The emperor fell silent again.
Qin Ze's ability to say such a thing proves that he is not an enemy who secretly wants to destroy the Amethyst Clan.
"So... what was the price I paid for this deal, or rather, what was the price the Amethyst Clan paid?"
Qin Ze said, "Your spirit."
The emperor trembled.
Qin Ze continued, "Now, you have no choice but to come up with something else."
The emperor was well aware of his situation.
The faint Power of Faith within the amethyst couldn't last long.
The Amethyst Clan will eventually have to face this crisis.
Can the Amethyst people really overcome this crisis by relying solely on their own strength?
The emperor's answer was no.
Why are you helping us?
Qin Ze said calmly, "It's just a matter of each getting what they need."
"All you need to know is that I will ensure the survival of the Amethyst Clan."
The emperor gritted his teeth. "Fine, I'll sign the agreement!"
At this moment, he placed the entire future of the Amethyst Clan on the shoulders of this unknown god.
A contract floated down from the sky, recording the details of the transaction.
Without further hesitation, the emperor pressed his handprint on it.
Qin Ze put away the contract. "You've made a very wise decision. The Amethyst People will be born because of you."
The emperor raised his head and asked, "May I know your divine title?"
Qin Ze pondered for a moment, then said, "Just call me... the Desolate God."
The Emperor bowed deeply. "The future of the Amethyst Clan is entrusted to Lord Desolate God."
The dream has ended.
Qin Ze opened his eyes and saw that the amethyst on the emperor's chest had cracked, and the little Power of Faith within it had dissipated.
It was the emperor himself who removed the last barrier protecting him.
Qin Ze's right arm materialized into a spirit form, and he retrieved the emperor's spirit intact.
Go in peace.
Qin Ze gently squeezed the emperor's hand, sending him on his final journey, leaving a purple crystal mark on his palm.
After doing all this, Qin Ze quietly left.
Shortly afterward, several maids pushed open the door and entered.
They carried basins of water and towels, clearly there to clean the emperor's body.
But when they touched the emperor's skin, they found it was ice-cold.
One of the maids mustered her courage to check the emperor's breath, then collapsed to the ground in terror.
"Your Majesty... His Majesty has passed away!"