In Order to Live as an Immortal, I changed a martial artist world to a xianxia world

Chapter 13: Failure! Failure! Ying Zheng’s Resolve!

High Above the Void.

Host has altered Li Hu’s perception, earning +30 Creation Force.”

Host has altered Li Si’s perception, earning +500 Creation Force.”

Host has altered Zhao Tian’s perception, earning +35 Creation Force…

Bai Chen hovered silently, watching the Qin soldiers below, as the system’s notifications echoed in his mind.

A slow, satisfied smile spread across his face. Ying Zheng had truly surprised him by mobilizing over a hundred Qin soldiers to attempt the second trial.

For these soldiers, the formation surrounding the altar was nothing short of divine intervention.

Every failure revealed to them the extraordinary disparity between mortal strength and transcendent power.

As their perceptions shifted, Bai Chen amassed a steady stream of Creation Force.

Even though the total contribution from all the soldiers paled in comparison to Ying Zheng alone, the sheer volume of participants yielded Bai Chen several thousand points.

“Ying Zheng, you’re indeed a treasure trove,” Bai Chen murmured with a pleased expression.

Though he had invested over 10,000 Creation Force into this setup, the returns had far exceeded expectations.

And this was just the beginning—Ying Zheng had yet to pass the trial and obtain the Creation Immortal Codex.

Bai Chen’s mind raced with the possibilities. If Ying Zheng succeeded, the Creation Force he could harvest would be truly astronomical.

As for whether Ying Zheng would pass? Bai Chen had no doubt.

After all, he controlled the trial’s mechanics. If he wanted Ying Zheng to pass, there was no chance of failure.

Within the Heavenly Pit.

“How can this be?”

Li Si’s trembling voice betrayed his astonishment. He, too, had failed the trial.

Like many of his comrades, he had been unable to confront the depths of his own heart.

“Li Si,” Ying Zheng said coldly, his gaze piercing. “What did you see?”

Unlike the ordinary soldiers, Li Si’s vision was of interest to Ying Zheng, who viewed him as a trusted minister.

“Y-Your Majesty,” Li Si stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“I… I saw Your Majesty’s demise. I saw the collapse of Qin.”

His face was pale as he described the horrifying vision, as though reliving a nightmare.

“Demise?” Ying Zheng scoffed, his tone dripping with confidence.

“Ridiculous. I have the Heavenly Essence Pill, which has granted me ten more years. Soon, I shall obtain the Creation Immortal Codex, and immortality will be within my grasp!”

“As long as I live, Qin will never fall!”

Li Si flinched at the emperor’s words, lowering his head in submission.

“Y-Your Majesty is right. I was mistaken. I have sinned in doubting Qin’s future,” he admitted, his voice shaking.

Yet deep down, he was haunted. His vision had excluded this miraculous opportunity—he had seen a world where Ying Zheng’s death led to chaos.

In his heart, he knew the collapse of Qin was not just possible—it was inevitable without Ying Zheng at its helm.

“Humph,” Ying Zheng muttered, turning his attention away from Li Si.

Just then, Zhao Gao was ejected from the formation and landed awkwardly nearby.

“Your Majesty,” Zhao Gao said, bowing low. “I have failed.”

Like Li Si, his face bore the marks of a harrowing ordeal, though he dared not meet the emperor’s gaze.

Ying Zheng’s eyes shifted back to the altar.

“Only Wang Ben and Han Zhang remain,” he muttered, ignoring Zhao Gao’s trembling form.

In Ying Zheng’s mind, Zhao Gao was merely a tool. As long as the emperor reigned, Zhao Gao would remain loyal. If that loyalty faltered, punishment would be swift and absolute.

For his part, Zhao Gao silently breathed a sigh of relief.

The vision he had witnessed was nothing short of terrifying. He had seen Ying Zheng’s death, his own rise to power, and ultimately his own downfall—the infamous “pointing at a deer and calling it a horse” incident that sealed his fate.

His gruesome execution was a stark reminder: he was nothing without Ying Zheng.

Thud!

Thud!

Two more figures were thrown violently from the altar’s perimeter. Wang Ben and Han Zhang landed hard, their faces etched with frustration and shame.

“We have failed, Your Majesty,” they said in unison, bowing deeply.

Both had encountered their inner demons and found themselves unable to overcome them, rendering them incapable of passing the second trial.

“Enough!” Ying Zheng barked, cutting off their apologies.

“If none of you can pass this trial…”

“Then I, the Son of Heaven, shall do it myself!”

The emperor’s bold declaration stunned everyone present.

“Your Majesty, no!”

“Please reconsider, Your Majesty!”

His ministers and generals moved to dissuade him, their voices tinged with panic.

But Ying Zheng’s stride was unbroken.

“Silence!” he commanded, his tone brooking no dissent.

“If this trial were about strength, I might hesitate,” Ying Zheng said firmly.

“But it is not. It is a test of the heart, and I refuse to believe mine is lacking.”

With that, he continued forward, leaving his retinue frozen in awe of his indomitable resolve.