Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

The dragon-spine-like mountain range coils, ancient pines stand steadfast.

The entire Imperial Mausoleum exudes a chilling majesty, with the occasional black crow taking flight.

Here lie the successive Human Emperors of the Divine Dynasty, each one having once rivaled the Emperor!

"..."

The Crown Prince stared blankly at the grand tomb, a hint of light suddenly igniting on his slightly aged face, he looked to the slender middle-aged man beside him: "Lord Lin, do I still have a chance to be like my predecessors?"

"Of course." Lin Shuya nodded slightly.

"Has the Immortal Court truly forgiven the Divine Dynasty?" The Crown Prince hesitated somewhat. He had indeed heard rumors that the situation across the Four Continents was inexplicably improving, but he couldn't fathom why, as the Imperial Court clearly hadn't accomplished anything.

"The Immortal Court harbors forgiveness for the Human World; as for the future, it depends on Your Highness's performance."

Lin Shuya lifted his head, looking at the other with encouragement.

The Immortal Court bestowed upon him the responsibility of instruction and supervision, so he naturally should strive to guide this new emperor to prevent the Human World from falling into chaos once more.

"All of you, energize yourselves for me!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince suddenly turned, his piercing gaze sweeping over the well-kneeling civil and military officials who were fasting behind him.

He took a deep breath, borrowing the aura of the entire court, and with the blessing of his ancestors, began to try to perceive the incomprehensibly vast Emperor's Aura.

This was the Crown Prince's first attempt to contest his father for control over the Human Emperor Qi, yet it was unexpectedly smooth.

There was no obstacle, and he managed to control nearly thirty percent of the Emperor's Aura!

The Crown Prince looked aside with a bit of surprise.

Lin Shuya tugged at the corners of his mouth, returning a smile.

The two exchanged glances for a moment, and the Crown Prince's eyes suddenly showed some guilt, his voice lacking confidence: "The Immortal Court has the heart to forgive the Human World, but what about Father, will they forgive Father?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Shuya pursed his lips: "Immortal Buddhas are benevolent. As long as His Majesty recognizes his mistakes and returns, how could the Immortal Court hold a grudge."

Both knew this was impossible. The Immortal Court had paid such a heavy price just to replace the Human Emperor, and if His Majesty did not die, how could a new emperor ascend?

But the Crown Prince just needed an excuse to comfort himself.

In all these years of governance, what he felt from beginning to end was that despair and helplessness, already weary in heart, if there was any chance to escape this quagmire, how could he give it up?

"That's good then."

The Crown Prince murmured softly, closing his eyes again.

Lin Shuya, like a shadow, accompanied him, just as he had accompanied another Human Emperor many years ago.

The situation had undergone many changes, but his position had never changed.

In this silent atmosphere, Lin Shuya quietly lifted his gaze, glancing towards the courtyard of the Imperial City.

The lives of mortals are too fragile, so even if they make a wrong choice once, they will fall into an endless abyss with no chance to rise again.

But those who possess great power are different; for example, His Majesty could make mistake after mistake, yet at this point, he still has the qualification to choose again.

Losing thirty percent of the Emperor's Aura reserve, coupled with the urgency of time, it was impossible to sever the connection between heaven and earth.

But... he could still choose to use this Emperor's Aura to transcend, continue to rule the Human World, no longer rivaling the Emperor, but standing as an equal with the leaders of the two great sects.

This unrestrained ability to start afresh, better than before, truly made one envious.

Such a fallback allowed him to mischievously toy with the lives of all creatures.

With this in mind, Lin Shuya slowly clenched his five fingers.

Even he hadn't noticed that his face was quietly filled with jealousy, and from the initial hope for His Majesty's transcendence, it turned into today's constant unease.

This ritual was to last for three days.

As the civil and military officials grew famished, with tongues scorched as if by fire, the daylight gradually dimmed, and the dark night descended upon the Human World.

...

The courtyard, the wine pool.

The clamor of the Imperial City even reached this secluded place.

The man knew what was happening outside, to be precise, ever since Gu Li brought back news before, having decided to gamble alongside Shen Yi, the Human Emperor had anticipated today's situation.

One must accept losses when betting.

He did want to kill Lin Shuya, but not because he had lost this gamble to him; even if there were no such head of the Immortal Department, could the Imperial City produce a valiant person bold enough to say no to Immortal Buddhas?

Even if there were, would not the Immortal Buddhas annihilate them with a single slap, only for a second to rise?

One after another stepping forward, then all slaughtered by the Immortal Court, leaving nothing but carnage; the outcome seemed no different.

He just felt that the one to bow should not have been Lin Shuya.

After all, all of the other's life's sufferings originated from the Immortal Buddhas.

This gamble was lost to too much greed, wanting both, yet ultimately, the two could not coexist.

If Shen Yi did nothing, or acted too slowly, the world would suffer miserably; if the other personally entered the fray, it would bring about inevitable risks.

The Human Emperor gambled on that minuscule possibility that lies in the middle.

After all, the picture depicted by Shen Yi's actions—a harmonious Red Dust, devoid of celestial presence—was so beautiful, making him salivate, and finally drown in it.

However, ever since the two sects' early vigilance,

The path left for the Human Emperor was but one; since cutting the connection between heaven and Earth was too late, then transcendence was the only choice.

"Sigh."

The man gently waved his arm, rippling a pool of wine.

Such a long period of silence allowed him to see clearly one thing: he was indeed afraid of death.