Even the Human Emperor Had Selfish Motives! (10,000 words)

After the harvest celebrations, the Taicang Tribe returned to its original rhythm.

Cultivation, farming

Everything proceeded smoothly without any unexpected changes.

Time flies by silently.

One month.

Three months.

Half a year.

One year----

The following year passed, but the change that Yu Tunzhou had vaguely suspected had not yet occurred.

This day.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly found An Ruyu.

The latter was accompanying a woman from the tribe to collect mulberry leaves.

Yu Tunzhou noticed that this tribal woman was the childhood sweetheart who had been rejected by the dragon not long ago.

After seeing Yu Tunzhou, the woman winked mischievously at An Ruyu, then smiled and left.

Yu Tunzhou watched her departing figure and said, "Are you trying to understand dragons better through her?"

Instead of answering, An Ruyu asked, "Young Hero Guo, have you come to see me with new discoveries?"

"I suddenly have a question," Yu Tunzhou said in a deep voice. "You said this is an illusion created based on the memories of the Human Emperor, and that we are in place of the Human Emperor who returned in the past. So how long exactly did the Human Emperor stay here?"

"We've been here for two full years now."

In just two years, with Yu Tunzhou's help, the Taicang Tribe had already achieved a bumper harvest, with full granaries. In addition to grain, under Yu Tunzhou's guidance, they also cultivated sour wild fruit trees in the mountains and forests, and their lives became increasingly prosperous.

Not only farming methods, but even the tribe's hunting techniques improved significantly after practicing Martial Dao.

The strongest dragon among them has reached the peak of the Form Refinement, and often ventures deep into the mountains to hunt Demon Beast alone and hone its skills.

It's fair to say that Yu Tunzhou has exhausted all the lessons he can teach in this regard.

But this still did not meet the standard mentioned by the voice, and the trial was not yet over.

Yu Tunzhou couldn't help but wonder, since they were replacing the Human Emperor who had returned in the past, was the timing of this trial the same as the time when the Human Emperor left?

An Ruyu fell silent for a moment before saying, "In his early years, the Human Emperor traveled to various places and witnessed the miserable state of Human Race. That's why he made a grand vow to lead Human Race to overthrow all oppression from other races."

"He did not stay in any one place for long during that time, and two years—that goes beyond a short stay."

Yu Tunzhou asked sharply, "Are you saying that the Human Emperor did not stay in the Taicang Tribe for the full two years?"

"I'm not sure either." An Ruyu looked up, gazing in the direction of the Taicang Tribe. "However, does Young Hero Guo still remember the Demon Beast mentioned in the dragon's mouth?"

"Nature."

The reason why the Human Emperor left and then returned in the dragon's mouth was because of that Demon Beast.

But so far, that Demon Beast has not appeared.

"I recently investigated the entire area within hundreds of miles of the tribe, but I haven't found the great demon that the Dragon Lord spoke of," An Ruyu said softly.

"I've searched there too." Yu Tunzhou looked into the depths of the mountains and said slowly, "It's not just the great demons; within a hundred miles, even the Demon Beast have been almost wiped out."

The one who slayed the demon was naturally the Dragon Lord.

"Has Young Hero Guo also begun to have doubts?" An Ruyu's eyes were deep and unreadable.

Yu Tunzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "In the past few months, the Dragon Lord has been seeking me out in private more frequently again. He feels that he has not yet reached the peak of the Form Refinement, and what he means is that he wants to know if there is anything else I can teach him."

An Ruyu said softly, "That Dragon Lord wants to learn Young Hero Guo's fundamental technique?"

That Dragon Lord's talent is beyond question. Even with Yu Tunzhou only teaching him the Agricultural God Stance and the Spark Instruction, he still reached the peak of the Form Refinement in just two years.

As for other martial arts----

After learning that this was the Taicang Dragon Lord, even though it was just an illusion, and even though he was not afraid of the Taiji Fundamental Method being passed on to outsiders, he did not choose to teach it.

The Dragon Lord's repeated visits during this period aroused Yu Tunzhou's growing suspicion.

Their previous speculations were all based on the premise that this world was an environment created by the Human Emperor using his memories as a foundation, but if—

No, isn't it?

A golden light swept down and landed steadily on Yu Tunzhou's shoulder.

After returning from the Huntian, Hun Tian said with folded wings, "That one went to Mount Taicang again."

For the past year, Huntian had been secretly monitoring the Dragon Lord, but had not discovered anything unusual.

"Your trial isn't over yet, is it?" Yu Tunzhou asked An Ruyu.

An Ruyu nodded.

"Two years have passed—I wonder how the others are doing." Yu Tunzhou out a soft sigh.

"Young Hero Guo need not worry," An Ruyu said casually. "What seems like two years may only be a moment in the outside world. The Human Emperor would not deliberately leave such a huge difference in the trial time."

Yu Tunzhou nodded slightly.

Han Wuj iu came back a month ago.

Over the past two years, he has traveled eastward, and whenever he arrives at a Human Race settlement, he will make a brief stop to alter the feng shui, making the area more suitable for Human Race habitation.

According to An Ruyu's speculation, what Han Wuj iu is doing now may be the same thing that the Human Emperor did back then.

Han Wuj iu's progress still seems somewhat far off.

He traveled eastward for millions of miles without stopping, yet he still did not reach the end of this world.

This place is so vast that it defies imagination.

But when he tried to continue exploring, he sensed a powerful aura of Immortals and Gods ahead.

Judging from his current pace, it's absolutely impossible for him to finish in ten years.

"We either continue to endure, or—we should take the initiative to test that Dragon Lord." Yu Tunzhou gently stroked Huntian's feathers.

"Is Young Hero Guo struggling to hold on?" An Ruyu said with a smile, "Perhaps the Human Emperor is testing our patience."

9"

"No, that's not it. These past two years have been quite beneficial to me. Although the laws of this world are severely flawed, and my cultivation has nearly stalled, it has given me enough time to calm down and integrate my own path. I'm now very close to becoming Grandmaster, but—"

Yu Tunzhou shook his head, his brows slowly furrowing, and said in a deep voice, "I can sense a strange sense of division in this world, and this sense of division is constantly intensifying."

He stared at An Ruyu in front of him. "You must have noticed it too, right?"

An Ruyu, however, looked at Hun Huntian on Yu Tunzhou's shoulder. "Great Sage, have you noticed any changes in the laws governing this world?"

After two years of getting to know each other, and with An Ruyu's deliberate efforts, Huntian had become quite familiar with the girl before him. He shook his head and said, "The principles of law are still severely incomplete, and I haven't found any trace of disturbance from the Great Dao ripples."

After a moment of silence, An Ruyu said, "If Young Hero Guo really tests that person, the price may be very high."

Yu Tunzhou's heart sank. "You mean, that's really a possibility?"

If this place is not an illusion, but the real past, then this Dragon Lord ----

This completely overturned their previous assumptions and sent an uncontrollable chill down Yu Tunzhou's spine.

Two years.

The true observers may never have been them.

He suddenly looked up and glanced around.

If this deduction is true, then is their current conversation also under the "vision" of that Dragon Lord?

Even Huntian's expression became extremely solemn.

A Primordial Unity Dao Lord once aspired to become Sect Master Sage—

At least at Kong Xuan's level!

Even at its peak, when facing Kong Xuan, it could only rely on its speed to escape.

"What exactly does the Human Emperor want?" Huntian asked, bewildered. "Are you absolutely certain he won't kill us?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Tunzhou seemed to be reminded of something and suddenly said, "I don't know what other people's trials are, but the Human Emperor obviously won't deliberately send you and me to our deaths."

An Ruyu smiled broadly, "Young Hero Guo is right about that. The Human Emperor would never send us to our deaths. So, it seems that the rumor might not be false."

What rumor?

"Young Hero Guo, have you ever heard of why the Human Emperor disappeared?"

Yu Tunzhou's expression changed slightly. "The Incense-Smelling Cult even knows this?"

"There's just a related rumor, but its veracity hasn't been verified." An Ruyu shook her head. "This news was passed down by the first leader of the sect. In his later years, the Human Emperor was assassinated, his condition deteriorated drastically, and he often went mad, even killing his closest relatives."

Yu Tunzhou nodded. "I've heard that too."

Before the Human Emperor disappeared, he would imprison himself every so often, during which time no one could find him.

On one occasion, he failed to restrain himself in time, fell into a brief madness, and killed his own daughter.

He received this news from the Taicang Long Clan!

Long Hua, who revealed this secret to him at the time, even mentioned that it was an ancient secret known to very few.

"Was it the Taicang Long Clan who told Young Hero Guo?" An Ruyu asked with a half-smile. "Did they mention that this Dragon Lord had already disappeared before the Human Emperor went mad?"

"Um?!"

"There are rumors that the Dragon Lord has mysteriously disappeared again, just like before. In reality, he has hidden himself in some secret place because his path was blocked by the Human Emperor, and he no longer sees any hope of attaining enlightenment in this world."

There are also rumors that the Dragon Lord was imprisoned by the Human Emperor.

"Regardless of the version of events, what is certain is that the Dragon Lord disappeared before the Human Emperor vanished. Although the Taicang Long Clan survived, the Dragon Lord's true form was never seen again after that."

Yu Tunzhou's expression was solemn. Had the Dragon Lord already been imprisoned by the Human Emperor?

His mind was racing; this possibility was quite high.

The Human Emperor is no merciful man. If he truly believes that the Dragon Lord is beyond redemption, he will surely eliminate this great threat for the sake of future Human Race.

Yu Tunzhou suddenly realized something and said, "You mean, the Dragon Lord might be imprisoned in this Immortal Heaven?"

"What kind of prison could compare to one's own Immortal Heaven?" An Ruyu said softly. "Does Young Hero Guo know what Great Dao that Dragon Lord wields?"

What avenue?

"It's related to reincarnation."

Yu Tunzhou was startled.

No wonder—

No wonder the Human Emperor turned against him completely; no wonder the Human Emperor said in his later years that this person harbored evil intentions; no wonder there were rumors that the Human Emperor imprisoned him.

He looked at the world again.

A new guess had already formed in my mind.

Is this the Dragon Lord's prison?

Huntian, understanding his thoughts, spoke softly, "The Dao Lord's destiny is eternal; as long as they don't die, they will eventually return."

"As for someone who stands at the pinnacle of the Dao Lord realm, if the best course of action is to imprison them without killing them, then the best way is to cast them into the cycle of reincarnation."

Even at the pinnacle of the Dao Lord, one is still situated within the Long River of Time, and as long as one is within this river, there is a risk of getting lost.

"As long as we restart the cycle of reincarnation before he regains consciousness, we can ensure that a Dao Lord is forever lost in the flow of time."

Huntian paused, then said in a deep voice, "In the ancient times, when the Sect Master Sage of various sects punished the Dao Lord of the lower realms, they all used this method, subjecting them to tribulations in the mortal world, suffering endless hardships, and unable to transcend them."

Yu Tunzhou felt conflicted. This was undoubtedly bad news, meaning they were likely facing a "top-tier Dao Lord" who could awaken at any moment.

Of course, there is also good news: this being has never awakened throughout all these years, from High Antiquity to the present.

Huntian muttered to himself, "There haven't been any outsiders involved for so many years, but now that we've become variables, it's hard to say what will happen."

"Fellow Daoist, I think you'd better not provoke that person."

Before Yu Tunzhou could even glance at her, An Ruyu said with a smile, "The Great Sage is indeed as rumored, possessing the bloodline of the Golden-Winged Great Peng and the beak of the Golden Crow."

Huntian proudly declared, "My Golden-Winged Great Peng isn't much weaker than their Golden Crow clan!"

Yu Tunzhou said expressionlessly, "She wasn't praising you; she was insulting you, saying you're like a crow, that your words are unlucky."

Huntian was immediately embarrassed and angry, but for some reason felt that these words sounded familiar. He glared at her, only to see that the girl looked completely innocent.

"What do you think?" Yu Tunzhou looked at An Ruyu, his eyes suddenly filled with suspicion. "For the past two years, I've been focusing on integrating my own Martial Dao, but how come you seem to have adapted so well to life here?"

An Ruyu said earnestly, "Since Young Hero Guo is cultivating every day, how would he know what I'm doing?"

That's what they say----

But Yu Tunzhou felt that something was off about this woman.

Life here is far inferior to that outside. Many things must be done by oneself. There are no maids to serve one, nor any attendants to accompany one another. The food is extremely simple and coarse.

They didn't stay here for just a day or two, but for a full two years.

However, An Ruyu seemed to enjoy it and was quite content with it, taking many things in the tribe seriously rather than just going through the motions.

Before Yu Tunzhou could speak further, An Ruyu suddenly asked, "Young Hero Guo, have you considered what the Human Emperor is trying to test you about?"

Yu Tunzhou narrowed his eyes and asked in return, "Those who enter this place should all be tested. Do you think the ultimate purpose of the Human Emperor's tests on each person is different?"

"Young Hero Guo, you are different from them," An Ruyu said with a smile. "You entered with the Human Ranking and have also cultivated the methods left behind by the Human Emperor. You are destined to receive special treatment from the the Unseen forces upon entering."

The Yu Tunzhou frowned; is that even a saying?

"So, Mountain Lord Shouzheng will also receive special treatment?"

"Of course," An Ruyu said matter-of-factly. "Not only him, but also the Buddhist School and Daoist School lineages familiar to the Human Emperor will receive corresponding attention. The trials they face not only involve them, but also are related to the lineages they belong to."

And what about you?

An Ruyu's bright eyes swept over, her expression a mixture of reproach and delight, and she said, "I'm already in the same world as Young Hero Guo, what do you think, Young Hero Guo?"

Yu Tunzhou fell silent, an answer emerging in his mind.

Now that it's clear that the Dragon Lord might be the real entity, the core of this trial—that's probably down to just one thing.

He looked back towards the direction of the tribe 'Mount Taicang, where he seemed to be able to see the Dragon Lord.

The True Intention of this test has nothing to do with farming, and even less to do with spreading the Dharma.

It is only related to the Dragon Lord and the Human Emperor.

Looking back now, he realized that in the past two years, especially in the last year, every time the Dragon Lord came to him, it was not only to test whether he had any new methods yet to be passed on to him, but also to instill his own ideas time and time again.

Therefore, the core of this test is whether one agrees with the Dragon Lord's ideas or supports the Human Emperor's ideas.

"It seems Young Hero Guo has also considered this," An Ruyu said softly. "But as the Great Sage just said, you and I are both variables in this cycle of reincarnation. If we directly clash with that person on ideological grounds, we might face unbearable consequences."

Yu Tunzhou sighed.

A clash of ideologies with the Dragon Lord could potentially lead to uncontrollable consequences, such as his awakening.

But if we just keep enduring this, who knows how many more years this trial will take to end?

The speculation about the flow of time is ultimately just speculation; they still need to leave this place as soon as possible and enter the true Immortal Heaven.

perhaps--

Whether one has the courage to debate the law with a Dao Lord may awaken at any moment, in order to prove one's own heart, is also part of this test.

Having figured out the key to this test, Yu Tunzhou did not relax, because the real test was only just beginning.

Let's take it one step at a time.

Yu Tunzhou opened its mouth and turned to head towards the tribe.

"Young Hero Guo," An Ruyu suddenly called out to him, "Will you one day become the second Human Emperor in this world?"

Yu Tunzhou continued walking without stopping, "It's a pity, but back when I was cultivating the [Spark Instruction] in the cave, I knew I could never become the second Human Emperor."

"But you still managed to cultivate the [Spark Instruction]." An Ruyu stared at him. "The fragment of the Human Emperor Seal also acknowledges you."

Yu Tunzhou turned around and laughed, "That's one of the reasons why I don't think I can become the Human Emperor."

Having said that, he left.

An Ruyu stood there, watching his departing figure in his blue robe, and after a long while, she chuckled softly.

Having truly grasped the essence of this trial, Yu Tunzhou was not in a hurry to meet the Dragon Lord.

He sat cross-legged in the Taicang Tribe, beginning to analyze every encounter and conversation he had with the Dragon Lord, especially the "ideas" the Dragon Lord had revealed in each exchange.

Until the Dragon Lord returned.

"Master Fish, I'm back."

The dragon threw the Demon Beast's corpse, which it had been carrying on its shoulder, to the ground. The ground trembled slightly, drawing admiring and respectful glances from the tribespeople not far away.

The burly man bore several fresh wounds, yet his smile remained radiant.

Another year has passed, and his figure has become even more heroic and vigorous, with a masculine temperament and an indescribable charm. He also seems to be in harmony with the world.

Unity of Heaven and Celestial Person.

The Chain Forming Stage shows a tendency towards Unity of Heaven and Celestial Person.

In Yu Tunzhou's perception, this trend seems to stem from his bloodline.

It is said that the earliest Dragon Race were born with External Scenery and became Immortals and Gods upon reaching adulthood.

A dragon that has incorporated Dragon Race blood from an unknown source is probably no less formidable.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Long, as usual, steered the conversation back to Martial Dao.

"Master Fish, after I fought this horned python and drank its blood, my Inner Qi suddenly surged, as if it were merging with thunder, but I still can't grasp the key point. Master Fish, what method can you use to help me?"

Looking at that heroic and spirited face, Yu Tunzhou wondered whether the Dragon Lord had awakened yet, and thus decided to "ask for his guidance."

Or is it a "test"?

Unlike before, he didn't give a perfunctory excuse; instead, he said, "Please sit down."

Long was slightly taken aback, then overjoyed, and sat down cross-legged with an air of authority, his eyes burning with excitement.

But the problem of the Yu Tunzhou was beyond his expectations.

"Dragon, how do you think your talent compares to that of the people of your tribe?"

"I possess dragon blood, which is somewhat unfair compared to the rest of the tribe."

Do you consider dragon blood to be noble?

Long frowned slightly. "Master Yu, are you asking me whether the Dragon Race is more noble than the Human Race?"

He shook his head and said, "In terms of strength, the Dragon Race's status in the world is naturally incomparable to that of the Human Race."

"Since we're judging by strength," Yu Tunzhou said slowly, "If one day Human Race reaches the pinnacle of the Great Dao and becomes a supreme saint, does that mean the Human Race is no less than any other race?"

The dragon shook its head. "The Dragon Race starts at a much higher level than the Human Race. Even if their top combat strength is similar, the difference at the bottom is enormous. The two races are simply Dharma Aspect."

Yu Tunzhou then asked, "Do you think that in this world, success or failure should be judged by one's birth, or should we place more emphasis on one's efforts after birth?"

Talent, temperament?

Long was silent for a moment, then said, "If I were of humble origin, I would naturally hope for the latter; if I were of noble birth, I would naturally hope for the former."

Yu Tunzhou laughed and said, "Let's add another hypothetical scenario: if you were the ruler of the Human Race, which type of Human Race would you prefer?"

The dragon laughed, "If I were the ruler of the Human Race, I would Human Race far surpass the Dragon Race race, and every Human Race would be born with the power of Immortals and Gods or immortal!"

Yu Tunzhou was taken aback, then asked, "So what are you planning to do?"

May every Human Race possess the power of Immortals and Gods from birth.

Even if the Three Pure Ones and Buddha himself joined forces, it would be impossible to accomplish this.

The dragon's eyes shone brighter than ever before, as if it had already planned it out. "For example, have all the Immortals and Gods in the world reincarnate as Human Race, which would greatly enhance the power of the Human Race!"

Yu Tunzhou scrutinized him closely. Was this man truly still unconscious? He already had that thought?

"Even if all the Immortals and Gods from all the forces were reincarnated as Human Race, it would still be a drop in the ocean compared to the sheer number of Human Race," Yu Tunzhou shook his head in denial. "The reason Immortals and Gods and gods are Immortals and Gods is that they are destined to be a tiny minority."

"This is just the first step."

The dragon's eyes gleamed as it said, "The next step is to strictly control the cycle of reincarnation, eliminating the weak and keeping the strong. Why are divine beasts like the Dragon Race born so powerful? It's because breeding is difficult, and the best are selected generation after generation, making the bloodline increasingly pure."

"Human Race is only capable of Yanzhi, but its offspring are of varying quality, with the vast majority born weak and wasting food and resources, thus hindering the growth of the race."

Even among races like the Dragon Race, if a descendant is born with impure blood or a weak constitution, they are considered defective and thrown into the Fallen Dragon Pool.

He spoke with increasing certainty, "By gathering all the Immortals and Gods in the world as descendants of our Human Race, and through generations selecting the best and eliminating the weak, and allocating all limited resources to the strong, within a few generations, the Human Race will be able to replace the Dragon Race and become the new immortal race in the world!"

Yu Tunzhou Boat remained expressionless.

The Human Emperor didn't kill this man; in the end, he was too sentimental.

The way to Human Race Human Immortal or immortal is to wipe out all Human Race who cannot become Immortals and Gods?

To call it harboring malicious intentions is far too lenient.

"Master Yu doesn't approve of my idea?" Long noticed the change in Yu Tunzhou's expression, his tone tentative, before he smiled and said, "I can understand, but Yan will definitely understand me."

Yu Tunzhou said calmly, "He can't understand; your ideas are too advanced."

"Ahead of its time?" Long was taken aback, then shook his head and laughed, "Some things aren't actually my thoughts, they're just things in my 'memory'."

What I saw.

Yu Tunzhou's gaze sharpened.

He doesn't believe the dragon has "awakened" yet.

Because he looks too "innocent," unless he's deliberately acting.

The only remaining possibility----

"You've awakened the bloodline memories of dragon blood? What did you see in those memories?"

Yu Tunzhou stared intently at the dragon and asked in a deep voice.

There was one thing that Yu Tunzhou had always cared about.

At the end of the Eternal Dragon Gate, the Dragon Race sent him a message, pointing out that Zhang Buyu possessed the aura of the one who secretly instigated the Dragon-Phoenix War back then.

It was this sentence that led him to the Eastern Wilderness, where he first came into contact with the Taicang Long Clan were hiding in Floating Hill Mountain.

However, the one from the Taicang Long Clan appeared in High Antiquity, so the timeline doesn't match.

After that, the matter was left unresolved for the time being.

And now, he has once again come into contact with traces of the mastermind behind it all!

The dragon paused for a moment, but did not deny it, frankly admitting that it had indeed seen it from the bloodline memories of the Dragon Race.

These are all recorded in the memories of the Dragon Race bloodline; they are grand plans that the Dragon Race once attempted to implement but ultimately failed to achieve.

This includes the "reincarnation of Immortals and Gods" plan he just mentioned.

As for the subsequent policy of eliminating the weak and keeping the strong, this is a rule that the Dragon Race has always followed.

"Rules?" Yu Tunzhou smirked. "These days, the Dragon Race can't even guarantee the survival of its race, let alone weed out the weak and keep the strong."

He knew more than one Dragon Race, including Ao Xiyu, who came from the South Sea Dragon Palace. Her father, the South Sea Dragon King, was already a thousand years old.

The reason why he was still so "hardworking" in his old age was not because of his temperament, but because the succession of the South Sea Dragon Palace was difficult. The previous generation of dragon princes and princesses either died violently or failed to pass the trials of the Dragon Palace.

"Human Race are different." The dragon remained confident and extremely optimistic. "Master Fish, in this era, Human Race will surely become the protagonists of heaven and earth!"

Yu Tunzhou was suddenly jolted.

Did the dragons of this era already believe that Human Race would become the protagonist of the world?

"Because a great being has chosen the Human Race!" the dragon said, its eyes gleaming.

Yu Tunzhou took a deep breath.

Lairu ----

This all makes sense now.

He said in a deep voice, "Dragon, why do you trust that being so much? Even the Three Pure Ones and Buddha wouldn't dare claim that they could Human Race become an immortal! Who exactly is he? Are you sure you haven't been deceived by some extraterrestrial demon?"

He tried to trick the dragon into revealing the other person's identity.

But at that moment, Yu Tunzhou suddenly changed.

"Master Fish, you've crossed the line."

With just one sentence, Yu Tunzhou tensed up, his expression changed drastically, his Dharma Domain expanded spontaneously, and the Vajra Bracelet between his fingers manifested on its own.

At this moment, a profound change occurred within the dragon, giving him an instinctive sense of dread, as if some great will was awakening within the dragon.

When he looked again, his gaze was completely different from before. The fervor and sincerity in his eyes had vanished, leaving only an unfathomable indifference.

"Dragon's" gaze fell upon the Vajra Bracelet, his voice no longer the clear, youthful tone, and he said calmly, "So Master Yu comes from the Daode Lineage, then Master Yu should be able to understand me on this point."

"Back then, wasn't it with the support of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and Virtue and the Buddha Haotian was able to secure his throne as the ruler of Heavenly Court?"

"And the reason he lost power was because he lost the support of the Heavenly Lord of Dao and Virtue and Buddha."

"If Human Race wants to stand at the pinnacle of the world, it must gain the support of one, or even several, ancient beings. This is the bloody reality."

Yu Tunzhou stared intently at the person in front of him, who should now be called the "Dragon Lord".

"Back then, the Human Emperor had already reached the level of the Three Pure Ones, and was the only active Sect Master Sage in the world. Could he still not suppress the destiny of the Human Race?"

"Far from enough."

The Dragon Lord sighed, "Some beings have been plotting for millennia; the rise of Human Race has been under their control from beginning to end."

"After Yan attained enlightenment, he gave up on progressing. From that moment on, I knew that he could not surpass those ancient beings and could not become the true reliance of the Human Race."

"So after that, you betrayed Human Race and even conspired with outsiders to murder the Human Emperor?"

An Ruyu's voice came from behind Yu Tunzhou, carrying a rare hint of indifference.

Yu Tunzhou tensed up. He wasn't sure how much strength the person in front of him could muster, but this was, after all, the Human Emperor's home ground. If he fought to the death, there should be a glimmer of hope!

"Betray?"

The Dragon Lord chuckled softly, as if listening to a child's innocent question. He slowly raised his eyes, his gaze piercing through the Void, as if returning to that era of blood and fire. "This is not betrayal, but a choice."

"Yan is unwilling to cooperate with that one, so I must Human Race, accept that one's proposal, and become His ally. Only in this way can Human Race continue to be the protagonist of the world."

"Yan understood this, which is why he didn't kill me. As long as I live, it Human Race will always have another option."

Yu Tunzhou shook his head. "Only when two people join forces on equal footing can it be called cooperation. But you, from the very beginning, were just someone else's pawn."

The Dragon Lord seemed to remember something, his expression turning somewhat gloomy, but he quickly regained his composure, saying in a calm tone with a hint of regret, "Yu Tunzhou, Yan thought highly of you, which is why he specially sent you to see me, but in the end you still disappointed him."

"Just now, I reached a new consensus with the remnant consciousness of Yan."

"As long as no one passes the final trial, I will take over this Immortal Heaven, inherit everything left behind by Yan, and embark on a brand new path."

Upon hearing these words, four words instantly popped into Yu Tunzhou's mind. "Use one tiger to devour another!"

The one who most desires to obtain all of the Human Emperor's legacy today, and who has already embarked on this path, is none other than the Emperor of the Great Yuan Dynasty!

"Then you're destined to be daydreaming," Yu Tunzhou replied directly.

"Is that so? But I can't think of anyone who can make it to the end. You have no idea for whom this Immortal Heaven was left behind."

The Dragon Lord smiled and shook his head, "But you don't need to worry. I admire your courage and your Martial Dao. The Human Race is very pleased to have a junior like you. After I leave, I will appoint you as the Crown Prince."

Yu Tunzhou grinned, revealing his teeth, and said, "Let's not even talk about who's older or younger, just consider how someone like you has stagnated for so many years..."

Those outdated and backward things are destined to be eliminated!

The Dragon Lord simply smiled, not taking the words of a mere junior to heart.

He suddenly said, "Do you know why Yan suddenly bowed down to me?"

Before Yu Tunzhou and the other could speak, the Dragon Lord muttered to himself, "Because the Human Emperor also has selfish motives. He is far from being as selfless as he thought, and this is the imperfection that exists in every Human Race."

Yu Tunzhou chuckled. This guy who hadn't appeared in public for so long was indeed completely unaware of the current situation.

An Ruyu smiled, but said firmly, "The Human Emperor will never cooperate with you again."

"Yeah?"

The Dragon Lord looked deeply at An Ruyu, and finally sighed, "Before today, I also thought so, but now it seems that he has finally succumbed to his own selfishness."

And at this very moment.

The indifferent voice that had rang out two years ago echoed in Yu Tunzhou's ears once more.

[Trial complete, proceed to the Immortal Heaven Central Hub]

The next moment, the two figures disappeared from the scene.

The Dragon Lord stood there, making no move to stop them, his expression gradually turning into a cold and indifferent one.

"Where are Master Long, Master Yu, and Master An?"

Just then, a familiar figure rushed out from the tribe, his voice tinged with anxiety.

The Dragon Lord was stunned and couldn't help but reach out and pull the woman in front of him into his arms.

"A Shui, A Shui ----"

The woman he pulled into his arms was none other than his childhood sweetheart, whom he had previously rejected.

The latter was clearly startled.

But the next moment, the Dragon Lord pushed the woman in his arms away, shaking his head and saying, "No, you are not her, you are not the real A Shui— "

He suddenly roared to the sky, "Human Emperor!!"

"When you severed your reincarnation back then, did you ever imagine that one day you would turn around and beg me for help?!"

The world turned upside down.

As clarity returned, Yu Tunzhou saw that standing beside him were not only An Ruyu and Huntian, but also Han Wuj iu.

"How many years did you spend inside?" Yu Tunzhou suddenly asked Han Wuj iu.

The latter also looked surprised and honestly replied, "I stayed inside for ten years. Didn't you disappear in the third year, True Lord? You've been waiting for me here all this time?"

They had originally agreed that Han Wuj iu would return to the tribe once every year.

"Ten years?" Yu Tunzhou and An Ruyu exchanged a glance, confirming a previous conjecture.

The Human Emperor had indeed controlled the flow of time within the Immortal Heaven. Even though they were in the same realm and completed their trials eight years apart, they still emerged at the same time.

"When you returned to the Taicang Tribe, did you find anything unusual?" Yu Tunzhou asked.

"Something's wrong?"

Han Wuj iu shook his head, about to speak, when he suddenly remembered something. His eyes widened in surprise as he glanced around. "Where's that dragon? True Lord, isn't he with you?"

"According to the Taicang Tribe, that guy named Long should have left with you, True Lord. I was wondering how you two managed to bring him out."

Yu Tunzhou looked solemn and exchanged a glance with An Ruyu.

After they left, the Dragon Lord also departed?

Did they leave their tribe, or did they leave that realm and enter the central hub of the Immortal Heaven?

At this moment, Yu Tunzhou looked up and, after two years, once again directly and clearly felt the laws and traces of the Great Dao that existed between heaven and earth!

An overwhelming surge of spiritual energy swept over me, a world completely different from the one I had just experienced!

He subconsciously took a deep breath, and all the acupoints in his body opened up, absorbing the rich primordial energy of the near-flat condensed liquid in this world.

The meridians, acupoints, and energy centers throughout the body, which had been dormant for a long time, were like a dried-up riverbed welcoming the flood season.

His Primordial Spirit emanated outwards, merging with the Dao. The Grandmaster barrier he had been repeatedly forging over the past two years was beginning to loosen somewhat.

"This... this is simply paradise!" Han Wuj iu's excited voice rang out.

He had long been accustomed to all sorts of blessed lands and grotto-heavens beyond the heavens, but compared to this world before him, he had no right to compare!

"This is the Human Emperor's Immortal Heaven Central Hub."

Yu Tunzhou looked up, his pupils slightly contracting.

A massive beam of light pierced through the heavens and the earth, within which the faint shadows of countless worlds, mountains, rivers, plants, and living beings could be seen, as if countless microcosms were condensed within it.

Around the pillar of light, above the sea of clouds, one floating island after another was scattered like stars, slowly rotating in some mysterious trajectory.

Each floating island is adorned with magnificent palaces and pavilions, their outlines appearing and disappearing amidst the dense, misty atmosphere.

These floating islands and palace complexes all slowly rotate around a central palace at the center.

The layout and specifications of that central palace looked somewhat familiar to Yu Tunzhou.

"Is that the Human Emperor's Temporary Palace in Northern Plains?" Yu Tunzhou asked slowly. "Is that the Human Emperor's Tomb?"

Compared to the Human Emperor's Temporary Palace in Northern Plains, the central palace here is far larger than imagined; the steps in front of the main gate alone seem to be ten thousand feet high.

Above the palace, nine illusory five-clawed golden dragons, each a thousand feet long, coiled and guarded the palace. Their eyes were lowered, looking down upon the entire Immortal Heaven, emanating a powerful aura that made Han Wuj iu feel a chill even from afar.

"These specifications—"

Han Wuj iu's expression changed, and he began to believe that this really was the place where the Human Emperor buried him.

But he had some doubts. Although this place was not small in scale, and it bore some resemblance to the portrait of the Sage Emperor's tomb he had seen in the sect, it was also different. Overall—

It doesn't look like an emperor's tomb.

Yu Tunzhou looked at An Ruyu and asked, "What do you think of what that Dragon Lord said at the end?"

"As expected, this is the Human Emperor's strategy of using one enemy to devour another," An Ruyu shook her head and said, "But it's not exactly good news for us either."

Yu Tunzhou nodded in agreement.

Although it was the Human Emperor's strategy of using one tiger to devour another.

But for them, it was the same situation: being caught between a rock and a hard place!

The worst news is that the Dragon Lord has already broken free from the original cycle of heaven and earth and entered the Immortal Heaven Central Hub.

An Ruyu suddenly laughed and said, "The situation hasn't reached its worst point yet. Emperor Tianshun and the others will have a headache before we do."

Yu Tunzhou chuckled, "That's really true."

I'm still thinking about the Dragon Lord's last words.

Yu Tunzhou looked up at the massive central palace, filled with doubt, "What exactly does the Human Emperor want to do?"

"The answer may lie deep within that palace."

At the same time.

One by one, figures stepped into the Immortal Heaven Central Hub.

Emperor Tianshun stepped out from the Void, his body surrounded by Sha Qi so intense that even Lü Qingxuan couldn't help but frown.

Kou Ziling smiled and said, "Congratulations on Your Majesty's triumphant return."

Emperor Tianshun had a cold and stern look in his eyes, and his temperament was both icy and sharp.

"Imperial Advisor, have you found the core of this trial?"

Kou Ziling shook his head regretfully and pointed to the two people beside him.

Emperor Tianshun looked over and saw that they were the same people who had previously refused the trial.

Kou Ziling said helplessly, "These two also entered this place after refusing, and just as we guessed, the Human Emperor controlled the flow of time, so we all entered and exited at the same time."

During Kou Ziling's questioning, it seemed that no matter what they did or how they acted, they would eventually enter this world.

This made all their years of hard work and trepidation seem like a joke.

To this day, Kou Ziling has not figured out the true purpose of that Human Emperor, only feeling that the wrath of heaven is unpredictable.

"Perhaps there's another possibility."

Kou Ziling suddenly spoke, and under Emperor Tianshun's gaze, he smiled helplessly, "The outcome was already decided when we entered this Immortal Heaven. The Refining the True, from beginning to end, has only been Your Majesty, who possesses the Human Dao Fortune and holds the Heaven Ranking."

"And we are just dispensable supporting characters."

For the first time, Emperor Tianshun's extremely cold and stern expression relaxed.

He realized that he had two options from the very beginning.

These years of life-and-death battles have given him a true grasp on the Human Dao Fortune!

At the same time, the golden light surrounding him intensifies with each powerful alien he slays.

As more and more corpses appeared beneath his feet, the imperial aura around him grew increasingly heavy, as if he were the true ruler of heaven and earth, holding the power of life and death in his hands!

He smiled faintly and said, "The Imperial Advisor's words do indeed make some sense."

Lü Qingxuan's face twitched.

He really can't tell anymore.

It's unclear whether Kou Ziling was deliberately flattering Emperor Tianshun or genuinely believed it from the bottom of his heart.

Emperor Tianshun's gaze was fixed on the central palace above the sea of clouds, surrounded by numerous floating islands. His eyes gleamed. "I can sense that within that palace lies what I desire!"

Suddenly, a golden figure, enveloped in a vast demonic Yao Qi, swept past them and soared straight into the sea of clouds.

"Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird?!"