Chapter 916: The Final Imperial Examination

"Bai Qi?" Sun Bumian looked at Bai Ye in surprise. "You also know that what's inside him is..."

Sun Bumian was greatly surprised. When he had previously glimpsed Jian Changsheng's fortune, he had vaguely guessed the source of the murderous aura within him. He had thought it was Jian Changsheng's secret and had pretended not to know, but he hadn't expected Bai Ye to also be aware of Bai Qi's presence.

Bai Ye glanced at him, a strange expression on his face: "In the Twilight Society, almost everyone knows, except for Little Jian himself..."

Sun Bumian: ...So it's a secret everyone knows, except for me?As expected of you, Spade 6.

"This is trouble," Bai Ye said in a deep voice. "No wonder he wanted to capture Little Jian and take him to the Monument of Great Deeds early... It seems these emperor remnants were already prepared to subdue Bai Qi."

"No matter how strong the current puppet emperor is, he's still isolated. He's fine within the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury, but if he leaves, he'll only be Tier 3. Those emperor remnants have lost patience trying to subdue vassals one by one, and just then, Bai Qi appeared..."

"Once they can bring this God of Slaughter under their command, their rank will be comparable to a demigod's. Within the Imperial Dao Ancient Treasury, they could even exert several times the power of a demigod... With a subdued God of Slaughter, Bai Qi, Lord Xuanyu would be no match at all, and even with two lords, they might only be able to barely contend."

"The God of Slaughter, Bai Qi, would submit to a puppet emperor?" Sun Bumian didn't seem worried. "When Bai Qi became famous, emperors didn't even exist in this world."

"If it were Bai Qi in his prime, of course not. But what's within Little Jian now is, after all..." Bai Ye hesitated for a moment, then spoke again, "Moreover, this is the emperor's home ground, and the strength of the palace exam is doubled. It all depends on whether Little Jian himself can withstand it."

A vast, irresistible imperial might surged into Jian Changsheng's mind!

Jian Changsheng clutched his head in pain, feeling as if his entire skull was about to split open. The world receded from his senses as a magnificent imperial throne rose from the void before him!

"I know you seek something..." A voice, like a divine decree, resonated like a great bell from above Jian Changsheng's head.

"Submit to me..."

"And I shall grant you everything you desire."

The next moment, Jian Changsheng's past and future flashed before his eyes like a movie.

He saw himself born in a dilapidated thatched hut, witnessed his mother's death upon his arrival; he saw himself living under the eaves of the Yan family, enduring life at the whim of others alongside his father; he saw himself repeatedly encountering misfortune and near-death experiences, yet stubbornly clinging to life...

The years of his past replayed before Jian Changsheng's eyes, also sweeping through the indifferent gaze filled with imperial might, as if his inner regrets had been fully perceived.

A moment later, Emperor Wu's voice drifted down from above: "I am aware of your heart's desires."

Emperor Wu waved his sleeve, and the surrounding scenery rapidly shifted, transforming from the replayed scenes of Jian Changsheng's tragic past into a swirling, misty future.

"Though your mother passed many years ago, deep within the Ghost Dao Ancient Treasury lies a Ghost Gate. Beyond that gate, an ancient well can recall the souls of blood relatives... If you submit, I shall one day lead you through the Ghost Gate, allowing you to reunite with your mother."

As Emperor Wu's words faded, the surrounding mist churned, immediately manifesting the appearance of the ancient well behind the Ghost Gate...

In that future, Jian Changsheng saw himself, guided by Emperor Wu, stepping through the Ghost Gate and dripping blood into the ancient well... After a while, he witnessed himself meeting and weeping with the soul of an unfamiliar woman.

Deep within Jian Changsheng's heart, something stirred.

"Your early years were tragic, filled with torment... The past cannot be changed, but if you submit, I shall enfeoff you as 'Martial Marquis of Heavenly Domain.' Henceforth, when I conquer the world, you shall be second only to me, above tens of thousands, and no one will dare to defy you."

As Emperor Wu's voice resounded, the scene around Jian Changsheng shifted once more.

He saw the world change hands, with Emperor Wu in imperial robes, reigning over the earth. At this time, Earth no longer had its nine human realms; only a magnificent and vast super-empire stood upon the wasteland.

And he himself, clad in golden armor, walked along the borders of the Ash Realm, where commoners and soldiers alike knelt and prostrated themselves like a tide wherever he passed, their shouts of "Long live!" echoing to the heavens.

"I am the Son of Heaven, and if you follow me, I shall naturally dispel the blood evil from your destiny, ensuring your future is smooth, successful, and your wishes fulfilled."

Having said this, Emperor Wu's hand, pressed against Jian Changsheng's head, exerted slight pressure. A strange aura emanated from him, seemingly capable of easily swaying one's heart.

"Jian Changsheng..."

"Now, are you willing to follow me?"

Jian Changsheng's mind wavered under this voice. Emperor Wu's three promises began to take root in his heart, gradually consuming his thoughts...

His regrets and desires were wildly amplified. Those who had accompanied him on his journey slowly faded, while the figure in imperial robes grew heavier and heavier in his mind, as if destined to become the sole focus of his life.

As Emperor Wu's hand pressed down, Jian Changsheng's head bowed lower and lower, as if he were about to prostrate himself completely on the ground...

Just then, Jian Changsheng's body suddenly became as rigid as steel, unable to be pressed down even a fraction further.

Feeling the resistance from his palm, Emperor Wu's brow slightly furrowed...

"...You expect me to kowtow and pledge loyalty to you, just for this?" Jian Changsheng's voice rang out. His body, as if resisting a mountain-like pressure, trembled with all its might under Emperor Wu's palm, slowly rising!

His eyes were bloodshot.

In an instant, the surrounding mist churned silently again. The past and future Emperor Wu had displayed seemed to be torn apart by an invisible hand, and images from the depths of Jian Changsheng's heart projected forth from the void!

"Spade, that Heaven-Reaching Star Position, do you want it or not?"

A figure in an opera robe stood in the memory, frowning as he spoke to him.

"Put it on. We've changed your fate for you."

"Spade 6, you don't need to bow to anyone."

"This time, thank you."

Under the influence of those voices, deeply etched into his soul, Jian Changsheng's body seemed to gain strength. He resisted Emperor Wu's hand, slowly rising to his feet...

At the same time, his peripheral vision swept over his surroundings. In his most vivid memories, almost all featured that bright and annoying large red opera robe... from the Military Dao Ancient Treasury, to Aurora City, to the Mortal World Realm, to the Celestial Pivot Realm... Of course, there were also a few figures in Tang suits, which had appeared more recently.

"Sorry... The unlucky, near-death fate you mentioned? Someone already changed it for me."

"And as for my tragic early experiences and suffering humiliation, a troublesome Awakened Lion already got justice for me, so I didn't take it to heart either..."

"As for that ancient well behind the Ghost Gate..."

"Later, Heart will take me there."